IIMAAJ (4)
CONFIDENTIAL
Ministerial discussion of the boat people problem
10.
OD (K) has discussed the problem on two recent occasions. It
met on 8 June to consider tactics for the Geneva Conference. And it
met again on 29 June to assess the results and consider next steps.
At those meetings OD (K) agreed inter alia that our objective should
be the mandatory repatriation of all non refugees; that we should
work for international acceptance of this principle; and that after
a trial period if this objective had not been achieved the policy of
first asylum as far as Hong Kong was concerned should be abandoned.
OD (K) meets again to discuss this subject on 4 October.
The US Perspective
11.
The Americans have resettled about one million Vietnamese since
the fall of Saigon in 1975. As far as boat people are concerned
their key objective is to retain first asylum not only in Hong Kong
but throughout South-East Asia. They object to the principle of
repatriating Vietnamese against their will until economic and social conditions in Vietnam have improved. In spite of an intense
lobbying effort, it is clear that the US administration aim is to
seek to delay any involuntary repatriation by Hong Kong indefinitely.
Financial aspects: HMG's contribution
12. HMG has made substantial contributions, both to UNHCR
specifically for HK VBPs and to Hong Kong directly.
recent contributions are as follows:
The details of
UNHCR: 1988 March
October
1989
-
£100,000 for HIC programme
£1M for the HK programmes
January USD 125,000 appeal for voluntary
repatriation funds.
March £500,000
April £500,000
June £6M for constructions of pillar point
open centre
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