TNAG-1975-FCO40-2808-Financial-assistance-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 13

CONFIDENTIAL

042137

MDHIAN 34

4. MOST MEMBERS ENDORSED THE POINTS MADE BY MR LEE DURING THE

DISCUSSIONS. ADDITIONAL POINTS WERE MADE AS IN THE FOLLOWING

PARAGRAPHS.

5. MR MCGREGOR ARGUED THAT A LARGER PROPORTION OF THE UK'S TOTAL

CONTRIBUTION TO UNHCR SHOULD BE DIVERTED FOR USE IN HONG

KONG.

HE ADDED THAT THE UK'S ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO

HONG KONG RATHER THAN VIA UNHCR.

6. MRS ELSIE TU AND OTHERS ARGUED FOR A REVIEW OF THE FIRST ASYLUM

POLICY.

7. MR MARTIN LEE SAID THAT THE VBP ISSUE WAS A FOREIGN POLICY MATTER

AND AS SUCH WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE U K. HE REPEATED HIS PROPOSAL THAT THE FUNDS BE APPROVED BUT THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD DEDUCT THE COST OF VBP ACCOMMODATION FROM HONG KONG'S CONTRIBUTION UNDER THE DCA. THE CHAIRMAN SAID THAT THE TWO ISSUES (IE VBP AND THE DCA) WERE NOT LINKED.

8. MRS FAN MADE FOUR PROPOSALS:

(I) HMA HANOI SHOULD BE ASKED TO PRESS THE VIETNAMESE FOR MORE

EFFECTIVE ACTION ON DEPARTURES

(II) U K SHOULD PRESS THE CHINESE TO TAKE MORE VIGOROUS ACTION ON

COAST HOPPING

(III) HKG SHOULD EXPLAIN THE FRUSTRATION FELT IN HONG KONG ON THIS ISSUE IN THE U.S. AND AT THE SAME TIME EMPHASISE THE NEED FOR

MANDATORY REPATRIATION.

(IV) IF THE GENEVA CONFERENCE DID NOT RESULT IN MANDATORY REPATRIATION OR A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD REVIEW ITS CURRENT POLICIES.

9. IN RESPONSE THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY EXPLAINED THAT ACTION ON

(I)-(III) ABOVE HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. HE NOTED MRS FAN'S FOURTH

PROPOSAL.

10. THESE WERE THE MAIN ISSUES RAISED IN WHAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT

DISCUSSION. IT IS CLEAR THAT MEMBERS WILL BE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF ANY

FURTHER REQUESTS FOR FUNDS TO PROVIDE VBP ACCOMMODATION LATER IN THE

YEAR.