ODE 18-77
Reference...
They should paint a stark picture of the situation in Hong Kong and present the choice of action for the future as essentially one between abandoning first asylum or instituting mandatory repatriation. They should table the ultimatum that unless the Steering Committee is willing to endorse our repatriation agreement and proceed immediately afterwards to assist us in its implementation, we will go ahead with repatriation as being a lesser evil than the abandonment of first asylum (and the only one of the two falling within the spirit of the CPA).
(a) And Hong Kong should be persuaded to prepare an explanation and defence of policy to be put to LegCo, the District Boards, the Media and others in order to buy time in the face of rising public antagonism. Such a defence should not pull punches and should point out that at a time when Hong Kong was seeking to attract the sympathy and support of the world community it should not invite hostility and censure because of its treatment of Vietnamese. This suggestion may sound heretical, but I do not believe that the Hong Kong Government can afford to stand by and watch public antagonism seal off one political option after another without any attempt to explain what progress is being made towards a comprehensive solution of the boat people problem.
6. I should be grateful for your and copy addressees comments. The imminent pattern of leave absences dictates a need to reach a clear decision on the way ahead this week.
15 August 1989
CC
: Mr Gillmore o/r
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Whitehead, News Department
Mr Gwynn, UND
PS/Mr Maude
PS/Lord Brabazon
Cliarles Heswall
CCD Haswell
Hong Kong Department WH 312 270 2652
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