CONFIDENTIAL
5. EVEN IF MINISTERS DECIDED TO EXPLORE THE OPTION OF REPATRIATION, IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO GET AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, AND ALSO TO ACCUSTOM THE
*INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE IDEA OF INVOLUNTARY REPARTRIATION.
IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO WAIT UNTIL UNEASE BEGINS TO GROW HERE ONCE
AGAIN ABOUT AN INCREASING REFUGEE POPULATION BEFORE ADDRESSING THIS
QUESTION. (PUBLIC CONCERN HAS ALREADY BEEN STIMULATED BY REPORTS
FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE ARGUING FOR
AN END TO THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY.) MY RECOMMENDATION IS THEREFORE
THAT CONTINGENCY PLANNING SHOULD BE STARTED ON THIS ASPECT TOO.
WE MUST SEEK TO ESCAPE ANOTHER LONG AND DAMAGING WRANGLE ABOUT HMG'S
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH ECHOES OF THE NATIONALITY ROW.
YOUDE
LIMITED HKD
SEAD
UND
MR WILSON
-2- CONFIDENTIAL
}