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MR PAUL
S/C MR STONE
618 MR HASWELL
MR WOOD
MR LEICESTER
CONFIDENTIAL
Wise
10/%
Mr Paul
HKD
From:
PS/Mr Maude
15 August 1989
Date:
CC:
PS
PS/Lord Brabazon Mr Gillmore
SEAD News Dept
enter
W14/0
HONG KONG
1. Mr Maude held an office meeting this morning to discuss an number of Hong Kong related issues. The following main areas were covered.
Vietnamese Boat People
2. Mr Maude said he had discussed this further with the Secretary of State. His firm view was that, if the UNHCR and the USA remained opposed to non-voluntary repatriation, he would wish to discuss further in Cabinet (14 September) or OD (K) before any decision were taken to go ahead with the first batch. He was, however, content for the detailed preparations to continue in the meantime. Mr Maude pointed out that Hong Kong and domestic politics pulled in opposite directions on this issue. From our point of view, it was vital that any operation involved no use of force. The Hong Kong government, on the other hand, would prefer it to look brutal, to deter others thinking of leaving Vietnam. We could not afford to be pressurised into acting prematurely by Hong Kong.
Counselling
3. Mr Maude asked about progress in improving counselling procedures in Hong Kong. You said that a telegram would issue later today.
Monitoring
4. Mr Maude asked about the idea of the Secretary of State/himself writing a letter to the UN High Commissioner for refugees. You said that SAED were preparing a submission.
Nationality Scheme
5.
You reported on your discussions with Home Office officials in Croydon on 14 August. A paper including a number of options would be ready by early September. This would, however, point out the fact that a ceiling of 150,000 was insufficient to accommodate all the desirable public and private categories. Mr Maude said that we should assume, for the time being, that the limit of 150,000 was immutable.
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