GR 440
CONFIDENTIAL
Copied to Sir J, cater
TOP
CONNDENTIAL
4KGO
FM HONG KONG Ø60702Z MAY 82
RECEIVED
HKK 2431
NO.51
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 456 OF 6 MAY
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: REPATRIATION
IN
PA
No
сие
--18/5 Ap18/5
1. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING FUTURE POLICY ON VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES IN THE LIGHT OF:
(A) A LIKELY INCREASE IN ARRIVALS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS:
AND
(B) DIMINISHING RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
2. THERE IS LIKELY TO BE PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR REPATRIATION TO
VIETNAM AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT. INDEED THERE ARE ALREADY
SIGNS OF A REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN THIS OPTION (SEE PARA 3
BELOW). WE HAVE NOTED THE ASSESSMENT OF HM AMBASSADOR IN HANOI
THAT IN POLITICAL TERMS REPATRIATION IS A NON-STARTER. BUT WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO UNOFFICIALS AND TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE
POSSIBILITY IS BEING, OR HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED.
3. WHEN SMYSER (DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES) VISITED HONG
KONG LAST WEEK, HE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM ABOUT THE CHANCES OF SECURING VIETNAMESE COOPERATION FOR SOME FORM OF REPATRIATION IN THE FUTURE. SMYSER COULD NOT POINT TO ANY SPECIFIC EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF HIS ARGUMENT, BUT REFERRED TO IMPROVED COOPERATION GENERALLY BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND UNHCR AND THE FACT THAT THE VIETNAMESE MUST HAVE
ACQUIESCED IN THE MOVES TO REPATRIATE KHYMER AND LAO REFUGEES FROM THAILAND. (FULL REPORT ON SMYSER'S VISIT IN DAVIES' LETTER CR 3/3371/79 OF 3RD MAY TO CLIFT HK AND GD).
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4. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THROWN INTO SHARPER FOCUS BY DISTURBANCES N
OUR MAIN REFUGEE CAMP INVOLVING FIGHTS BETWEEN NORTHERNERS AND SOUTHERNERS AND ASSAULTS ON THE POLICE (MY TELNO 451 OF 4TH MAY).
THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS IN EXCO, IN THE PRESS AND ON PHONE-IN
PROGRAMMES ON THE RADIO FOR THE TROUBLEMAKERS TO BE SENT BACK TO
VIETNAM. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN COPING WITH THIS OUTCRY IF WE COULD
SAY THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ASKED TO CONSIDER
ACCEPTING BACK THOSE WHO HAD NO PROSPECTS OF RESETTLEMENT OUTSIDE
HONG KONG, SUBJECT TO AN UNDERTAKING THAT ANY PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR
CONFIDENTIAL
/ ILLEGAL
See 74 83
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