GRS 400
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 272008Z JAN 83
TO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK
TELEGRAM NUMBER 26 OF 27 JANUARY
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI AND UKMIS GENEV
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HONG KONG TELNO B (REPEATED NOW TO UKMIS GENEVA) + VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : POSSIBLE REPATRIATION.
+1KK243/5
~APADY KO. 61 3 11933
No
x
A VÍTRY
Action Taken
CH2
See
1. WE COULD NOT SACTION COMPULSORY REPATRIATION OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG TO VIETNAM SO LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO BE REGISTERED AND PROCESSED BY UNHCR AS REFUGEES AND VIETNAM'S INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOUR CONTINUES TO BE SO BAD. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF PUBLIC SPECULATION ABOUT REPATRIATION OF ANY KIND COULD BE AVOIDED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. WE TAKE IT THAT THE SUBJECT REMAINS ONE OF GREAT DELICACY IN BANGKOK. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT BOAT PEOPLE REACHING HONG KONG ARE NOW PREDOMINANTLY VIETNAMESE (RATHER THAN CHINESE), INCREASINGLY FROM CENTRAL AND NORTHERN AREAS OF VIETNAM, AND INCLUDE A LARGE NUMBER WHO MUST HAVE SET OUT FOR PRIMARILY ECONOMIC RATHER THAN POLITICAL MOTIVES, THEY CONTINUE TO BE GENERALLY REGARDED AS REFUGEES RATHER THAN ECONOMIC MIGRANTS, IF ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL ILLEGAL EMIGRANTS AND THERE IS A REAL LIKELIHOOD OF PERSECUTION OR REPRISALS WERE ANY TO RETURN HOME, WHATEVER THEIR REASONS FOR LEAVING.
2. ANY REPATRIATION WOULD THEREFORE NOT ONLY REQUIRE THE COOPERATION OF UNHCR BUT WOULD ALSO ULTIMATELY DEPEND ON OUR OBTAINING SATISFACTORY ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF THOSE REPATRIATED.
3. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE
IF REQUIRED:
"HONG KONG CONTINUES TO LOOK AFTER LARGE NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. WHILE ARRIVALS LAST YEAR REMAINED AS HIGH AS 7,800, RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WEST HAVE SHARPLY DECLINED. WE CANNOT EXPECT HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO SHOULDER A BURDEN LIKE THIS. IN THE LONG RUN THEREFORE THE POSSIBILITY OF REPARTIATION MAY EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. THIS WOULD OF COURSE
INVOLVE THE COOPERATION OF BOTH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AND, INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES CONCERNED''.
4. YOU SHOULD AVOID AT THIS STAGE, EVEN IF PRESSED, ANY SPECUALTION ABOUT POSSIBLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE.
5. INCIDENTALLY, WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF PARTICULAR PRESS INTEREST EITHER HERE OR IN BANGKOK. WAS THERE ANY SPECIFIC ANGLE TO YOUR ENQUIRIES?.
РУМ
BOAT PEOPLE
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
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
COPIES TO:
MR SIDDLE LEGAL ADVISER MISS WILMSHURST
CONFIDENTIAL
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