8. Rev Shaw asked about contingency measures, should confidence be
eroded further and all 50,000 households leave. Mr McLaren said
that the world dealt with crises as they happened and would not make
contingencies for hypothetical cases.
Bill of Rights
9. Mr McLaren explained that the two UN Conventions already
applied to Hong Kong would continue to be so after 1997. The Bill of Rights would not grant new rights, it would bring those already enjoyed by Hong Kong people into a convenient package.
Vietnamese Boat People
10. The Archbishop enquired as to the most effective way of dealing with this problem. Mr McLaren gave the background to the present situation and explained Hong Kong's antipathy towards Vietnamese Boat People. Aid to Vietnam could help reduce the outflow, but only in the long term. Screening was necessary to differentiate between economic migrants and genuine refugees, the latter being defined in UN conventions. The US position was regrettable but an early change
seemed unlikely.
11.
Mr McLaren encouraged the delegation to contact him again before their trip if there was any point which required
clarification.
Hong Kong Department
21 February 1990
cc: Mr McLaren
Ms Hancock
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