TNAG-1913-FCO40-2717-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-port-of-first-asylum-1989 — Page 3

HLRABH

2+3/24 CONF

IDENTIAL

HKB

RECEY

30MAY 1989

Mar foul

abandonment of first asylum

the memek by weplectors

"option" isn't only

un palatable.

b

\25/1

It is

unworkable.

impolitic, illegal and

Mr Brenton

UND

PRE

2515

Mr. Mchagen

W2575

From:

A R Paul

Hong Kong Department

Date:

24 May 1989

CC:

PS

PS/Lord Glenarthur

PS/Mr Eggar

PS/Mr Patten

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Slater

SEAD

Legal Advisers

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

1.

FIRST ASYLUM

2

Thank you for your minute of 22 May.

ра

pa /257

I have also seen

Mr Hat full's minute of 24 May, recording Mr Eggar's views.

2.

The points in your minute are well understood. But the fact remains that we are responsible for Hong Kong. The current crisis

means that we may have to choose between two options: mandatory repatriation or the abandonment of the principle of first asylum. Neither is at all palatable, although, as I have minuted before, the former (if attainable) would appear to me to be more acceptable than

the latter.

3.

There is of course another way forward, should the situation (and the political mood) in Hong Kong deteriorate further: that HMG should meet part, if not all, of the cost of accommodating boat

people in Hong Kong.

million per year.

At current (1989/89) levels this would be £60

ARPanc

A R Paul

CONF IDENTIAL

f