TNAG-1903-FCO40-2705-Hong-Kong-cabinet-meetings-on-Vietnamese-refugees-1990 — Page 56

from mainland

The

CONF

CONFIDENTIAL

China were repatriated as a matter of Cours

now in Hong Kong was

number of

insupportable.

Vietnamese

The problem was one of mass migration rather

han of flight from persecution.

for the United Kingdom;

This suggested that suspension

the policy of the policy of first asylum might be an appropriate course

such a step might become more

to public opinion in the United Kingdom if the

were problem facing Hong Kong

fully

Tap

acceptable magnitude

of

the

appreciated Alternatively, the threat of suspension might be

used as

ever to induce the Geneva Conference to take

decisions kely

Likely to solve the problem; but in that case the

threat must be a real one.

b.

Experience suggested that it would be difficult physically to repel boat people from landing in Hong Kong. There would be a risk that the Vietnamese would deliberately scuttle their Own

boats and that people would be drowned. This could well

attract wide interna

international publicity and opprobrium. A theoretical alternative possibility might be for boats

intercepted by Naval vesse

turned back towards Vietnam.

c.

The Government

at a distance

IDENT

of Vietnam

to

from shore and

no doubt glad to get rid

be

the prospects

of its surplus population through emigration, and the for persuading it to accept such people back against their will were doubtful. Without the cooperation of the Hanoi government compulsory repatriation could not be achieved and a unilateral announcement of such a policy would have no

practical meaning.

d. The Government of Japan, who had done little to help solve the problem, should be urged to accept efugees for resettlement, to contribute financially Fesettlement

elsewhere, to house the proposed Regional Processing Centre,

or to finance such a Centre elsewhere eg. in the Philippines.

e.

t

Past Vietnamese immigration into the United Kingdohad created pressure on housing, schools and social services, particularly in certain inner London boroughs and other

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