CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 15130OZ FCO
TELNO 1553
OF 151115Z MAY 89
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA,
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CONFIDENTIAL
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HK ATTS
071017
MDHIAN 4705
나
MY TELNO 1455: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
LEGOO DEBATE
r
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT 19 MEMBERS INTEND TO SPEAK DURING THE DEBATE ON 17 MAY AND THAT THE MAIN ISSUES RAISED WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
(I) THE QUESTION OF VBPS IS A MATTER OF FOREIGN POLICY, AND THEREFORE HMG BEARS THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOLVING IT. HMG SHOULD PRESS FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION AT THE ICIR, PROVIDE MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES, AND MAKE A DIRECT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG.
(II) THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF THE SCREENING POLICY IS MANDATORY REPATRIATION OF NON-REFUGEES. UNLESS THE ICIR ENDORSES THIS APPROACH
THERE CAN BE NO COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.
(III) IF THE ICIR DOES NOT PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION THEN THE POLICIES OF FIRST ASYLUM AND SCREENING SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
2. THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WILL BE REPLYING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. HE WILL AIM TO FOCUS HIS REMARKS ON THE SPECIFIC PROPOSITIONS IN THE MOTION BUT IF THE BROADER ISSUES OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE ARE RAISED HE WILL CLEARLY HAVE TO ANSWER THEM. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE INTEND TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE IN REPLYING TO THE MOTION:
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(I) THE UK HAS TAKEN A LEADING ROLE IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ICIR, AND IN PRESSING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF SOLUTIONS. SPECIFICALLY, THE UK WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION IF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION FAILS TO DEVELOP SUFFICIENT MOMENTUM. ON FINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WILL REMIND MEMBERS OF THE UK'S RECENT STERLING 6 MILLION CONTRIBUTION. INEVITABLY QUESTIONS WILL BE RAISED ON U K RESETTLEMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE BELIEVE THE UK WILL BE PREPARED TO INCREASE ITS RESETTLEMENT QUOTA AS PART OF A GENERAL PACKAGE.
(II) IT IS DIFFICULT TO ARGUE AGAINST THE PROPOSITION THAT WITHOUT
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