CONFIDENTIAL
MKK 243
508401.
00 UKMIS NEW YORK
00 WASHINGTON
GRS 232
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 021454Z FEB 83
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 106 OF 2 FEBRUARY
PA
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON
CLOSED CAMPS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. FOLLOWING TO YOUR MEETING WITH LORD BELSTEAD LAST WEEK,
SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW CONSIDERED THE HUMAN RIGHTS
IMPLICATIONS OF THE CLOSED CAMP POLICY. HE AGREES THAT THE
LEGISLATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS IN BREACH OF HMG'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER
THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, MAY
REMAIN IN FORCE. BEARING IN MIND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THE
POLICY CAUSES WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF
THE LEGISLATION CAN BE REVOKED AS SOON AS THE SITUATION
ALLOWS: WE ARE SURE THAT YOU WILL REVIEW THE POLICY REGULARLY.
ALSO WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF WE COULD SEE THE REVISED RULES FOR THE
RUNNING OF THE CAMPS IN DRAFT BEFORE THEY ARE INTRODUCED.
2. THE SECRETARY OFSTATE HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE IDEA OF
REPATRIATION, AND THE CREDIBILITY OF ANY ASSURANCES
WE
WE MAY OBTAIN FROM THE VIETNAMESE AND THE PROBLEM OF OUR BEING
ACCUSED OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE REGUGEES TO RETURN.
HE WISHES TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF HMÅ HANOI BEFORE ANY APPROACHES
ARE MADE TO THE VIETNAMESE ON THE SUBJECT. SEPARATE TELEGRAM TO
HANOI (COPIED TO YOU) WILL FOLLOW.
3. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HMG WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL
REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION BY MINISTERS.
PYM
1 BOAT PEOPLE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
COPIES TO :
MR SIDDLE LEGAL ADVISER. MISS WILMSHURST
MRS HELEN YU
11
HKGO LONDON
LIMITED
SEAD
HK & GD
UND
FED
PUSD
NEWS D MAED
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
MR WRIGHT
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE
CONFIDENTIAL
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