CONFIDENTIAL
023756
MDLIAN 5544
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1229
OF 26050OZ MARCH 88
HUD 243/5
TC
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, HANOI
HUD 243/9
OUR TELNO 4783: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE CASES
FURTHER TO TUR, THE TUG-BOAT CREW REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT THEY COULD NOT LEAVE AGAIN. THE INSISTED THAT THEY DID NOT WISH TO STAY IN HONG KONG AND CONTINUED TO DEMAND THAT THEIR BOAT BE REPAIRED SO
THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY.
-
BOAT
2. AFTER MUCH HEART-SEARCHING WE AGREED TO REPAIR THE TUG DESPITE THE HIGH COST (ESTIMATED AT ABOUT DOLLARS 200,000).BUT WE ALSO GAVE THEM AN ULTIMATUM THAT THIS WOULD BE THEIR LAST CHANCE AND IF THEY SHOULD RETURN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WOULD BE PUT IN A CLOSED CAMP.
3. WORK ON THE TUG-BOAT COMMENCED ON 24.2.88, AND IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE WHOLE CREW SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE BY EASTER.
4. HOWEVER, WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS SOME MEMBERS OF THE CREW INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING A CHANGE OF HEART. AFTER FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS, DURING WHICH THE REPAIRS TO THE TUG-BOAT WERE SUSPENDED, 13 CREW MEMBERS HAVE NOW DECIDED TO STAY IN HONG KONG AS REFUGEES. THE REMAINING 7 (ALL MALE) HAVE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS ARE UNDER WAY THROUGH UNHCR.
5. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED THE USUAL UNDERTAKING RELINQUISHING ALL CLAIM TO THEIR BOAT, THOSE WISHING TO RETURN TO VIETNAM HAVE PROPOSED THAT WE SHOULD RETURN THE TUG-BOAT TO VIETNAM AS THEY ALLEGE THAT IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE VIETNAM PEOPLE'S NAVY.
·
6. WE HAVE NOT (NOT) ACCEPTED THEIR PROPOSAL NOR DO WE SUGGEST APPROACHING HANOI ON IT HOWEVER, WE PROPOSE TO RETAIN THE TUG-BOAT FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR UNTIL AFTER THE SEVEN RETURNEES HAVE BEEN REPATRIATED WHICHEVER IS THE EARLIER. THE TUG-BOAT WOULD THEN BE DISPOSED OF IN WHATEVER MANNER WE SEE FIT. IF BEFORE THE END OF THIS PERIOD THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WERE TO ASK FOR THE RETURN OF THE TUG-BOAT, IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO COLLECT ON THE
·
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
16