CONFIDENTIAL
an agreement to resettle all those currently in Hong Kong. This
would however be a step backwards. The international community accepted at the June Conference in Geneva that screening
arrangements should be instituted thoughout the region and that the
screened out should return to Vietnam. The only question at issue
is whether the time has come to abandon reliance on the voluntary
principle alone for their repatriation.
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termination of first asylum. A theoretical alternative which
would be virtually impossible to implement and would arouse even
greater international opposition.
the US to arrange for a holding centre for the screened out
somewhere else in the region. This is likely to present insuperable
obstacles.
The US to accept financial responsibility for continued stay in
Hong Kong. But this is unsatisfactory politically, and on
presentational grounds.
REACTION IN HONG KONG
The Governor of Hong Kong has warned that if a programme of
non-voluntary repatriation has not been put in play before the end of the year, the Finance Committee of Legco will refuse to vote funds for the running of the camps. In such circumstances HMG would come under pressure to meet all the capital and recurrent
costs of the camps in Hong Kong. The Governor has no authority to override decisions taken by the Finance Committee.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.