RESTRICTED
76828
1
INTERESTED PARTIES WHO HAVE VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN SEARCH FOR A
VIABLE SOLUTION TO THIS TRAGIC PROBLEM.
INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
VERY SIGNIFICANT MORAL AND POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO SUCH A
COURSE. HMG WOULD NEED TO BE REASSURED BY VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES
THAT ANY RETURNING VIETNAMESE WOULD BE TREATED HUMANELY. AT PRESENT, HMG DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SATISFACTORY
ASSURANCES COULD BE OBTAINED. MUST CONTINUE TO REGARD
RESETTLEMENT AS THE ONLY IMMEDIATE WAY TO ALLEVIATE HONG KONG'S
REFUGEE PROBLEM: BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ALL OTHER FEASIBLE
SOLUTIONS.
VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
ONLY SOME 22 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG HAVE
APPLIED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. ABOUT 14 REFUGEES HAVE SO FAR
RETURNED: OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY
VIETNAMESE. THEREFORE DOES NOT SEEM A REALISTIC OPTION AT PRESENT.
ENDS
HOWE
OCMIAN 6828
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
WED
UND
FED
NEWS D
MAED
PS
PS/MR RENTON PS/MR EGGAR MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR WILSON
MR BRAITHWAITE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
2-
Restricted
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