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between Hong Kong and Vietnam, they would have to change planes at
Bangkok or travel on specially chartered direct flights. Either
arrangement would attract much more publicity than repatriation
across a land border. It might also be difficult to persuade an
airline to take the Vietnamese
(c) Unlikely that Vietnamese would take them back. When the UNHCR,
Mr Poul Hartling, visited Hanoi in September 1984, the Vietnamese
Foreign Minister said that if certain Vietnamese did not want to
participate in the work of reconstruction and left Vietnam, there
was no reason why Vietnam should take them back. He said that
Vietnam would consider applications on a case-by-case basis; given
the large numbers involved, this statement, even if sincere, me ans
very little (Mr Hartling only raised the question of voluntary
repatriation, although we had asked him also to raise involuntary
repatriation; but the Vietnamese cannot
cannot be expected to have a more
forthcoming attitude towards the latter).
17. It is for consideration whether we should explore the
Vietnamese position more fully, eg by means of a direct approach to
the Vietnamese authorities by HMA Hanoi, as Hong Kong proposed in
November 1984. Two points need to be taken into account:
(a) Our relations with Vietnam are not good. Vietnam, more than
ever dependant on the Soviet Union, maintains an occupying force in
Cambodia and a garrison in Laos. There is evidence of continuing
human rights abuses in Vietnam. Since 1979 we have given no UK aid
to Vietnam and have opposed the resumption of EC aid. We have
spoken out against Vietnam's Cambodia policy and human rights
abuses. Hanoi has no reason to do us a favour. Even if the
Vietnamese authorities gave us assurances, there i s no
that they would keep their word.
guarantee
(b) Our preference that UNHCR should take the lead on this issue.
18. Mr Luce agreed in April 1984 that the Hong Kong Government
should not be authorised to implement any programme of involuntary
repatriation without the full support and involvement of UNHCR. A
repatriation policy which did not have UNHCR support would be bound
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