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INITIATIVE (PARA 30). WE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO SOLVE A PROBLEM
OF THIS MAGNITUDE ON OUR OWN. WE HAVE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL GESTURE,
PARTLY WITH THE AIM OF BREAKING THE LOGJAM. WE THINK IT
REASONABLE TO LOOK FOR RESPONSES TO THIS GESTURE. WE HAVE LEFT
THE WAY OPEN FOR FURTHER LIMITED RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK
THEREAFTER, BUT WILL WISH TO TAKE ANY DECISIONS ON THAT IN THE
LIGHT OF REACTIONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
3.
IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, WE WOULD WELCOME VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, WHICH UNHCR CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST DESIRABLE
LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR REFUGEES. BUT ONE HAS REALLY TO STICK
ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND TO BELIEVE THAT THIS OFFERS A SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW VOLUNTEERS
FROM AMONG THE REFUGEES CURRENTLY IN HONG KONG, AND IN OUR
JUDGEMENT THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE. THE VIETNAMESE HAVE
ANYWAY BEEN UNWILLING TO COOPERATE IN ARRANGING FOR THE RETURN OF
REFUGEES WHO DEPARTED ILLEGALLY OR TO GIVE ASSURANCES THAT THEY
WOULD NOT BE TREATED INHUMANELY. ALTHOUGH SINCE 1978 14 PERSONS
HAVE ASKED TO BE SENT BACK FROM HONG KONG AND HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED
BY VIETNAM, OF THE FOUR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE VIETNAMESE
SINCE 1983 THEY STILL HAVE NOT REPLIED IN RESPECT OF THREE, DESPITE REPEATED REMINDERS BY UNHCR, AND HAVE RECENTLY REJECTED ONE WITHOUT GIVING REASONS. (IN RESPONSE TO AN APPROACH BY MR HARTLING, U N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, IN SEPTEMBER 1984,
THE VIETNAMESE SAID THAT THEY SAW NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULD TAKE
BACK VIETNAMESE WHO DID NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK OF
RECONSTRUCTION AND HAD LEFT VIETNAM, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE PREPARED
TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.) 4.
REPLYING TO DAY, WE SUGGEST YOU EXPLAIN THAT WE SHARE THE
AMERICANS' INTEREST IN SEEKING DURABLE SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN THIRD
COUNTRY RESETTLEMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROSPECTS FOR FURTHER
ABSORPTION OF VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG ARE SEVERELY CONSTRAINED BY
THE TERRITORY'S CROWDED CIRCUMSTANCES: AND FOR THE REASONS GIVEN
ABOVE WE ARE FORCED TO CONCLUDE THAT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION DOES
NOT OFFER A POSSIBLE SOLUTION IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. APART
FROM THE ABSENCE OF VOLUNTEERS, THE PROBLEM IS NOT LACK OF
CONTACT WITH THE VIETNAMESE, BUT LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THEM.
PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS
IN
COPIES JO!
-
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
SIR W HARDING
NAD
-2-
DR WILSON
UND
HKLO LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL