TNAG-2623-FCO40-3814-Visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-an-1992 — Page 29

NOTE FOR FILE

HKD (26/13

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Marris Mr B214 Mr Woodrow

121/9

mla

VISIT OF MR GOODLAD TO HONG KONG: 4-9 SEPTEMBER 1992: MEETING WITH

ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY:

7 SEPTEMBER 1992

Those present:

Mr Goodlad Mr Ricketts Mr Dorey

Mr Strachan, Acting

Secretary for Security Mr Morris, Secretary for for Security's office Mr Van Leeuwen, local

representative, UNHCR

(for VMs only)

but less embarrassing than if fonada had not granted them asylum!

Political Asylum Cases

2.

Messrs Strachan and Morris referred to the two political asylum cases currently sub judice (Liu Yijun and Lin Lin). Neither case warranted asylum. Amnesty International had investigated them and other countries had also turned down the applicants. But they had sought judicial review by a judge: the case would be heard on 10 September. He hoped it would be thrown out on procedural grounds or that the review would be limited to hearing the procedural aspects. The Government's lawyers were confident. But it would be embarrassing if another country decided to accept the cases (France was a worry). The Government had been successful in keeping

But there

such cases out of the courts in the past.

were thousands in China who could fit the criteria of having been involved in the democratic movement and who might also seek asylum if those applications were accepted. OMELCO would probably raise these cases with the Minister: several members were active in protecting Chinese dissidents.

Chinese Naval Activity Against Vietnam

3. Mr Strachan said that 15 small Vietnamese vessels with manifest loads had been seized outside Hong Kong waters recently and 2 inside by Chinese security forces. Some 40 vessels were now in the harbour and afraid to leave. A Royal Naval vessel was now patrolling the sea lanes as a deterrent. Their

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