CONFIDENTIAL
51608 1
-
C) THE CHANCES OF THE VIETNAMESE GIVING US ANY RELIABLE
ASSURANCES OF THE WAY RETURNING BOAT PEOPLE WOULD BE TREATED.
WE WOULD EXPECT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG TO BE
RELUCTANT TO RETURN HOME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD EVEN IF THEIR
RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS HAVE DWINDLED TO NOTHING. IF WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO RETURN WITHOUT REALLY SATISFACTORY ASSURAN-
CES WE RISK SEVERE CRITICISM HERE OF EXERTING UNDUE AND UN- FAIR PRESSURE ON THEM (THIS IS A DANGER IN ANY CASE).
D) THE CHANCES OF UNHCR BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH A SATISFACTORY
ARRANGEMENT FOR MONITORING RETURNEES. IN LAOS FOR EXAMPLE
OFFICIALS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR VILLAGES FOR AT LEAST A YEAR
AFTER RETURN AND CAN CHECK EG ON RETURN OF FORMER LAND
HOLDINGS.
E) THE RISK THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL SEEK TO EXPLOIT ANY APPROACH WE MAKE IF IT REFLECTS (AS IT MUST) AN ANXIETY TO SECURE THEIR HELP IN ALLEVIATINO HONG KONG'S REFUGEE BURDEN: AND WAYS IN WHICH THEY MIGHT DO SO, EG SOME FORM OF QUID PRO QUO ON OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR CANDIDATES FOR ORDERLY
DEPARTURE.
PYM
1
BOAT PEOPLE
PS
LIMITED
SEAD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
HK & GD
UND
FED
PUSD
NEWS D MAED
MR WRIGHT.
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
COPIES TO:
MR SIDDLE LEGAL ADVISER MISS WILMSHURST
CONFIDENTIAL
77