Pra
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15.
(3)
(4)
In
balance of
There would certainly be a parliamentary and public outcry if the approach became known publicly. The SCORRI report
states that compulsory repatriation "could never
be
even for
countenanced for refugees and is inconceivable
obvious economic migrants in present circumstances".
It might undermine our stand against human rights abuses
in Vietnam and the approaches we make on behalf of Orderly. Departure Programme candidates.
Government.
spite of the evident difficulties, we consider that the
argument lies in favour of our instructing HM Ambassador
Hanoi to broach the subject of repatriation with the Vietnamese
We should need to try to clear our lines with UNHCR
first, although it is plain from what the UN High Commissioner said
to Mr Luce on 12 March that UNHCR are against involuntary
repatriation as a matter of principle. The nature of the approach
would need to be considered carefully both in order to encourage the prospect of constructive dialogue with
Vietnamese and to reduce
be
the strength of the outcry in this country should it become public.
Our aim should
to present the problem as one imposed on the West
by the Vietnamese themselves. We should refer to Our previous
discussions with the Vietnamese on (voluntary) repatriation. We
should point out that while in the past Hong Kong has been able to
cope with the problems caused by the outflow from Vietnam, the
situation has now become unmanageable, and we are therefore having
to contemplate returning boat people to Vietnam on arrival in Hong
Kong, just as we return illegal immigrants from China. We would ask
whether the Vietnamese would be prepared to cooperate by accepting
those returned, and to provide any assurances as to the treatment
afforded them after return.
1
We would not specify that this
repatriation would be on an involuntary basis (thought that would be
the clear implication)
This would make it less easy for the
Vietnamese to embarrass us publicly about the approach, which could
be represented a s a continuation of previous contacts that we and
the UNHCR have had on repatriation.
questioned publicly we
I f
of repatriation unless
to the
should say that there will be no question of
credible and
satisfactory
assurances
are
received as
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