Conclusion
There
13. The conference was well organised and covered a wide range of immigration-related topics. The speakers were by and large of a senior level. But discussion of key issues from the floor was patchy. There was some feeling that the conference was too tightly regulated so that fluid debate was difficult. were also a number to whom I spoke who considered that conference speakers had been stacked in favour of the pro- immigration group. Certainly a good deal was heard about latest research suggesting that immigration is a net benefit rather than cost to Australia, though the environmentalists too had their say.
On balance the organisers will no doubt by pleased with the way the conference went. They are looking to stage a follow-up conference in a couple of years time.
You
سلام
ever,
23 November 1990
CC:
RAD, FCO
D G BLUNT
HKD, FCO
CGS Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney Chancery, Wellington
DPA, Hong Kong
ན་
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2716
OF 08044OZ SEPTEMBER 90
AND TO PRIORITY CANBERRA
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
pl. enh
HK / Aushelia Jile
Rn 19/9
171643 MDLIAN 9126
HKB 020 /10
8
RECEIVES
13 SEP 1990
VISIT TO HONG KONG OF MR GERRY HAND, MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE (VBPS) AND EMIGRATION
SUMMARY
1. A GENERALLY USEFUL VISIT, MARRED ONLY BY ROUGH PRESS HANDLING ON THE BRAIN DRAIN. A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE NEW MINISTER LACKS THE ROBUSTNESS OF HIS PREDECESSOR ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION
OF NON-REFUGEE BOAT PEOPLE.
PROGRAMME
2. MR HAND VISITED HONG KONG FROM SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER TO WEDNESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER. HE CALLED ON ME ON 3 SEPTEMBER, AND LATER MET HKG OFFICIALS AND VISITED WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE. HE HELD
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 4 SEPTEMBER.
VBP
3. DURING BOTH BRIEFINGS AND VISITS, THE MINISTER TOOK A CLOSE INTEREST IN OUR SCREENING PROCEDURES AND IN MEASURES TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. HE INDICATED AT ONE POINT THAT UNHCR'S EFFORTS IN COUNSELLING THOSE SCREENED-OUT SEEMED
INADEQUATE
-
AN IMPRESSION HE HAD GAINED FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION AND URGED A REGIONAL MEETING OF FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES SO THAT COUNSELLING EXPENSES COULD BE SHARED AND A COMMON STANDARD
AND APPROACH ADOPTED.
4. OUR GENERAL IMPRESSION WAS THAT BOTH MR HAND AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WERE EAGER TO BUILD UP THE MOMENTUM OF THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME AND HAVE BEGUN TO SHY AWAY FROM THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN A MANDATORY PROGRAMME. WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THE MINISTER THAT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WE FACE AND THAT A MANDATORY SCHEME WOULD ACTUALLY REINFORCE THE NUMBERS APPLYING TO RETURN VOLUNTARILY.
COMMENT ON VBPS
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5. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE POINT COULD BE REINFORCED TO THE AUSTRALIANS THAT BOTH HMG AND HKG REGARD IT AS ESSENTIAL THAT THE WHOLE OF THE CPA SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS ON THE NEED FOR ALL NON-REFUGEES TO RETURN TO VIETNAM, WHETHER
VOLUNTARILY OR OTHERWISE.
EMIGRATION
6. ON EMIGRATION, MR HAND SHOWED HIMSELF VERY SENSITIVE OVER SUGGESTIONS BY THE MEDIA THAT AUSTRALIA WAS CONTRIBUTING TO HONG
KONG'S BRAIN DRAIN. THE PUBLICATION OF OUR REVISED EMIGRATION FORECASTS THE DAY BEFORE HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, AND CLUMSY QUESTIONING BY A REPORTER ON RADIO HK, MAY HAVE GIVEN HIM THE IMPRESSION THAT HE HAD BEEN SET UP. WE TOOK STEPS TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.
7. AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, APART FROM DEFENDING AUSTRALIA'S IMMIGRATION POLICY, MR HAND SAID THAT AUSTRALIA WOULD NOT OFFER ARRANGEMENTS SIMILAR TO THE BRITISH NATIONALITY PACKAGE TO HONG KONG PEOPLE, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE UNFAIR TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY WANTED TO EMIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA. THEY WOULD ASSESS THE NEED FOR ANY INCREASE IN QUOTA NEXT YEAR, BUT WOULD NOT CUT THE QUOTA FOR FAMILY REUNIONS.
COMMENT ON EMIGRATION
7. NO NEED FOR ACTION ON THIS. CONTRARY TO PRESS REPORTS, MR HAND'S TALKS WITH ME FOCUSED ON VBP PROBLEMS RATHER THAN
EMIGRATION.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
77
ΜΑΙΝ
71
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
PS
SEAD
HKD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
MR MCLAREN
MR BLATHERWICK
MR BURNS
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