TNAG-2231-FCO40-3203-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 15

G.F. 82

File No.

Page...

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTE FOR FILE

Governor's Visit to Australia

8 to 15 May 1991

Meeting with Mr Gerry Hand,

Minister for Immigration, Local Government

and Ethnic Affairs on 13 May 1991

Gerry

Hand, MP,

The Governor called on Mr Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs on 13 May. Also present were Mr David Wheen and (First Assistant Secretary, Migration Division) Ms Sue Ingram (Assistant Secretary Refugees, Asylum and International Branch). The following points were raised :-

boat.

the

of

the

(a) The Governor said that the Vietnamese arrivals in Hong Kong were now 2 1/2 times the 1990 level and were averaging over 70 a day. An increasing number were northerners coming by Hong Kong's first direct elections to its Legislative Council in

Autumn made The first this a ready-made political issue. asylum policy was extremely unpopular in Hong

and non-Official Members Kong Legislative Council were already threatening to refuse funds for additional accommodation. We

likely were

to come under increasing the first asylum policy. The Governor said that volunteers had almost dried up.

There were less than 100 in the pipeline. Court cases and counter-counselling had profoundly altered the mood in the camps

(b)

pressure

to

abandon

and the UNHCR had lost its drive.

had Australia

Mr Hand said that

provided additional funds to the UNHCR for counselling but they appeared to be putting an emphasis on the ASEAN countries. The Governor said that this was a problem for Hong Kong which was now receiving 98% of departures from Vietnam. He asked whether Australia could allocate some of the funds to Hong Kong. Mr Hand said that he would do what he could to help.

(c) Mr Hand said that SC4 had been important as a confidence-building exercise. It had achieved

a

firm provision measures" sub-committee

to re-commitment

for

"additional

the and

CPA.

both help.

The

alternative and the establishment of the

would

The latter

should help encourage a readiness to discuss methods of return in a less confrontational climate. The Governor said that it might help it needed to be done

move

the

US

but along

quickly.

CONFIDENTIAL

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