TNAG-1894-FCO40-2688-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 26

ΤΙΜΑΑΙ

MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG, 17-19 SEPTEMBER 1989

BRIEF NO 5 : MEETING WITH MR VAN LEEUWEN (UNHCR)

Points to Make

Grateful for UNHCR's hard work in search for a comprehensive solution to problem of Vietnamese boat people; and for your contribution to screening and counselling work in Hong Kong;

UNHCR involvement in monitoring returnees to Vietnam also

valuable. Hope this will continue in an expanded programme for all

returnees.

Over 10,000 people have

Current situation in Hong Kong critical.

arrived since Geneva Conference in June. Pressure on accommodation

and other resources intolerable. Calls by local community to abandon policy of first asylum.

Appreciate that conditions in some camps are far from ideal. HKG/HMG have spent over HK$400m on accommodation already and will

spend a further $400m this year. We are doing all we can in impossible circumstances.

Не

Measures taken so far to reduce burden have made little impact. Results of voluntary repatriation disappointing. Only 264 have returned to Vietnam under these arrangements.

Will continue and step up our efforts to stimulate more

volunteers. Hope that UNHCR can also step up its counselling work

in this area too.

But unless dramatic breakthrough in number of volunteers, see little alternative to adopting further measures to ensure repatriation of all non-refugees.