TNAG-1900-FCO40-2699-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 55

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM WASHINGTON

TO DESKBY 08083OZ FCO

TELNO 2357

OF 072345Z SEPTEMBER 89

INFO DESKBY 08020OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

115.4.4.4

MDHIAN 4776

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: MCLAREN'S DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON

SUMMARY

THE

THE

1. A DISCOURAGING ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

AMERICANS EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE CPA: NEED TO IMPROVE UNHCR'S PERFORMANCE IN COUNSELLING BOAT PEOPLE ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION: AND THE CONSEQUENT REQUIREMENT TO WAIT

FOR THESE STEPS TO TAKE EFFECT BEFORE REACHING A VIEW ON WHETHER

THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROVISIONS OF THE CPA WOULD PROVIDE

THE ANSWER TO HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS. CLEAR REAFFIRMATION THAT

INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WOULD POSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION.

DETAIL

2. MCLAREN HAD AN INTENSIVE ROUND OF TALKS HERE ON 7 SEPTEMBER.

THE CENTRE-PIECE WAS A MEETING CHAIRED BY SEITZ (ASSISTANT

SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS) AND ATTENDED BY 15 ON THE US SIDE

INCLUDING BOLTON (ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS), MRS LAFONTANT (COORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE PROGRAMMES), LYMON (THE NEWLY ARRIVED ASSISTANT SECRETARY DESIGNATE FOR REFUGEE PROGRAMMES) AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OFFICES OF EAGLEBURGER AND ZOELLICK. MCLAREN ALSO SAW SEPARATELY

JACKSON (NSC), SOLOMON (ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIA AT STATE) AND KIMMITT (UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS).

3.

AT EACH MEETING, MCLAREN EMPHASISED THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM FACING HONG KONG GIVEN THE CONTINUING HIGH RATE OF ARRIVALS, THE HOSTILITY OF THE LOCAL POPULATION, AND THE RIOTING AND HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE CAMPS, ALL AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF ANXIETIES STIMULATED BY EVENTS IN CHINA. THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS ON A SUFFICIENT SCALE, AND IN PARTICULAR NO SIGN THAT THOSE SCREENED OUT WERE

WILLING TO VOLUNTEER. UNLESS THERE WAS EARLY PROGRESS TOWARDS EASING THE BURDENS ON HONG KONG, PRESSURE WOULD MOUNT IN LEGCO FOR AN END TO FIRST ASYLUM.

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