CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
DECREASING ARRIVALS
4. Of the options identified in the paper for stemming
the flow of further arrivals in Hong Kong, towing out to
sea is clearly unacceptable.
For the reasons
explained
in paragraph 19(a) of the paper, repatriation on a
voluntary basis is unlikely to have much impact on
numbers; there are virtually no volunteers.
>>
5. I have considered carefully the arguments set out in
paras 17 and 18 of the paper on the question of opening a
dialogue with the Vietnamese on forcible repatriation of
boat people to Vietnam. I have however concluded that
Parliamentary and public opinion in this country would
not accept that we should discuss forcible repatriation
with the Vietnamese regime given our condemnation both of
Vietnamese human rights policies at home, and their
policy towards Cambodia. There is in any case virtually
no prospect that the Vietnamese would cooperate either in
receiving the people concerned or in giving assurances
about their treatment. Even if they did, they would not
be believed. A policy of forcible repatriation would be
likely to be compared in this country with the
repatriation post-Yalta of Soviet prisoners at the end of
the Second World War. In short we should rouse a storm
of protest with no corresponding gain. A decision not to
talk to the Vietnamese about possible repatriation will
be highly unpopular in Hong Kong. We risk being accused
of forcing the territory to shoulder burdens which we are
unwilling either to share or allow them to alleviate
themselves. If we
follow this policy it is therefore
CONFIDENTIAL