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RECEIVED IN TELISTRY
INDE A
19 APR 1985
नं
со
GRS 500
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 190100Z
TOP C
WESTRY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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FM FCO 181130Z APR 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 539 OF 18 APRIL
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
OUR TELNO 399: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: POLICY PAPER FOR MINISTERS
1. WE HAVE NOW REACHED AGREEMENT WITHIN THE FCO ON THE POLICY
PAPER AND COVERING SUBMISSION, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUT UP
IN THE OFFICE.
2.
THE POLICY PAPER IS ESSENTIALLY AS IN OUR TELNO 279, ALTHOUGH
IT HAS BEEN AMENDED IN THE LIGHT OF COMMENTS RECEIVED, INCLUDING
YOUR OWN. (COPIES BY BAG).
3. THE SUBMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT WE SHOULD ADOPT A THREE-
PRONGED POLICY AS FOLLOWS:
A)
B)
INCREASING DEPARTURES : THAT WE SEEK TO OBTAIN AGREEMENT THAT
THE UK SHOULD ACCEPT A GREATER NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
FROM HONG KONG ON A REGULAR AND CONTINUING BASIS (WE PROPOSE
500 A YEAR), AND THEN, BASING OURSELVES ON OUR DECISION TO DO
SO, WE MAKE A MAXIMUM EFFORT TO PERSUADE OTHER RESETTLEMENT
COUNTRIES TO INCREASE THEIR UPTAKE.
DECREASING ARRIVALS : THAT
WE EXPLORE WITH THE VIETNAMESE THE PROSPECTS OF THEIR
COOPERATING WITH A PROGRAMME OF REPATRIATION (WHICH BY CLEAR
IMPLICATION WOULD INCLUDE INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION) COUPLED
WITH ASSURANCES ON THE TREATMENT OF THOSE CONCERNED.
C) THAT WE EXPLORE METHODS OF IMPROVING TRAINING FACILITIES IN
THE CAMPS IN HONG KONG.
IF THE RECOMMENDATION AT (A) IS ACCEPTED WE SHALL NEED TO
TAKE IT UP WITH THE HOME OFFICE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SCORRI
REPORT.
5. AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE, WE HAVE HAD CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY
IN REACHING AGREEMENT ON RECOMMENDATION (B) WITHIN THE FCO. THERE
ARE UNDOUBTEDLY DANGERS IN APPROACHING THE VIETNAMESE, AND WE NEED
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