TNAG-2183-FCO40-3120-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL CORRECTED VERSION

358,

020150

MDLIAN 1068

CONFIDENTIAL

CORRECTED VERSION

FM CANBERRA

HKD 340:1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

SEP 1990

DESK

-FILES

TO PRIORITY FCO

'NDEX

TELNO 827

OF 17030OZ SEPTEMBER 90

INFO PRIORITY HONG HONG

~ V

*ker

Para 4

INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, MANILA INFO ROUTINE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, OTTAWA, PARIS, TOKYO

INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, HANOI, PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA, UKMIS NEW YORK

HONG KONG AND VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

SUMMARY

1. HOME SECRETARY DISCUSSES VBP'S WITH AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (EVANS) AND THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION (HAND). AUSTRALIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE CPA BUT IS LIKELY TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. LITTLE JOY ON SPECIAL SCHEME FOR RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONGERS IN AUSTRALIA.

DETAIL

2. WHEN THE HOME SECRETARY CALLED ON SENATOR EVANS ON 12 SEPTEMBER HE ASKED ABOUT CURRENT AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDES TOWARDS MANDATORY REPATRIATION. EVANS SAID AUSTRALIA REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE CONCEPT OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION. HE HAD SPOKEN TO HAND FOLLOWING HIS VISIT TO THE REGION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CPA WAS STILL RECOGNISED. EVANS MENTIONED DOMESTIC CRITICISM OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION BUT SAID THIS WAS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HE ALSO MENTIONED US PRESSURE ON THIS ISSUE.

3. AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING WITH THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION HAND TOOK A DIFFERENT LINE FROM EVANS. HAND SAID THAT NOBODY WANTED MANDATORY REPATRIATION AND HE DOUBTED WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE COULD BE INDUCED TO AGREE TO IT. MORE EMPHASIS SHOULD THEREFORE BE GIVEN TO VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. HIS TOUR OF THE REGION HAD CONVINCED HIM OF THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREENING PROCEDURES. HE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES WERE DUE TO LACK OF RESOURCES. HE SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES FURTHER WITH THE AMERICANS. HOWEVER HE DID REITERATE THAT AUSTRALIA WAS ''TOTALLY COMMITTED'' TO THE CPA.