TNAG-1972-FCO40-2805-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 31

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 08080OZ FCO

TELNO 1448

OF 080735Z MAY 89

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD 24319 нко

TOP COPY $2 LIST ?

(05)

045053

MDHIAN 3626

INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, PEKING, HANOI, MANILA

FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

I AM TELEGRAPHING TO YOU SEPARATELY TODAY ON THE PRESENT SITUATION WITH VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS AND OUR IMMEDIATE ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS.

2. AS YOU WILL SEE FROM SEPARATE TELEGRAMS THE ACCOMMODATION SITUATION IS NOW VERY BLEAK. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF, AT THE MINISTERIAL MEETING TODAY, YOU WOULD PUT TO MINISTERS OUR URGENT NEED TO PRESS FOR ACCOMMODATION ELSEWHERE IN ORDER TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON HONG KONG. THE TWO OPTIONS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ARE:-

3.

A)

A SOUTH CHINA HOLDING CENTRE, AND

B) SOME SORT OF OVER-SPILL CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES

I HOPE MINISTERS WILL AGREE THAT THESE TWO OPTIONS SHOULD BE FORCEFULLY PURSED. ON A) THE POINT MIGHT BE MADE THAT IN TERMS OF RESOLVING THE SITUATION WELL BEFORE 1997 THE CHINESE HAVE A LOT TO GAIN FROM COOPERATION WITH US IN THIS REGARD. ON B), AS SEEN FROM HERE, AMERICAN PRESSURE IS LIKELY TO BE CRUCIAL.

4. THE CONTINUING INFLUX AND THE MASSIVE PROBLEMS IT POSES UNDER- LINES THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE MAKES TANGIBLE PROGRESS ON REPATRIATION COVERING NON-VOLUNTARY AS WELL AS VOLUNTARY. THE LATTER ALONE SELF-EVIDENTLY WILL NOT/NOT BE ENOUGHT.

WILSON

YYYY