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}
041016
MDHIAN 6695
BACK ECONOMIC MIGRANTS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE WILLING TO RETURN (PARA. 5 OF UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 382).
4. WE MAY NEVERTHELESS FIND THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THE BASIS OF A PHASED PROGRAMME, WHICH WOULD START WITH VOLUNTARY RETURNS AND MOVE ON TO OTHER ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. WE SHALL PREPARE OUTLINES OF ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES FOR THE LATTER, INCLUDING RETURN IN BATCHES OF DIFFERING SIZES, BY AIR OR SEA.
5. WE MUST OF COURSE REALISE THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE QUITE LIKELY TO BE DELIBERATELY MANIPULATING THE PRESENT OUTFLOW IN ORDER TO EXTRACT BENEFICIAL TERMS FROM US. THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE MAY WELL FIND THEM VERY STICKY ON SUCH MATTERS AS RADIO BROADCASTS AND WILL NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY ON TO PROBING THE REPATRIATION POSSIBILITIES.
6. ANY TALK ABOUT REPATRIATION IS LIKELY TO BRING VIETNAMESE DEMANDS FOR MONEY IN SOME FORM OR OTHER. I REALISE THAT OUR TEAM WILL NOT BE ABLE TOMAKE ANY COMMITMENT ON THIS AND WILL NEED TO HANDLE THE MATTER EXTREMELY CAUTIOUSLY. NEVERTHELESS IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE TEAM TO HAVE FOR BACKGROUND PURPOSES SOME IDEA ABOUT THE SORT OF PACKAGE OF MODEST AID WHICH WE MIGHT EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO CONSIDER PROVIDED THAT ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE RETURN OF THE BOAT PEOPLE COULD BE WORKED OUT IN OTHER AREAS. I SHALL BE HAVING A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION WITH EXCO ON 12 JULY. MY PRESENT ASSESSMENT IS THAT IF WE COULD GET A WIDER SCHEME IN PLACE, HONG KONG WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE, PROVIDED THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR VIETNAMESE UNDERTAKING TO RECEIVE BACK A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF BOAT PEOPLE AND THAT HMG WERE ALSO A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR. I AGREE THAT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ANY FORM OF AID INCLUDING ANY HONG KONG CONTRIBUTION, SHOULD BE HANDLED BY UNHCR.
7. IT DOES NOT LOOK NOW AS THOUGH WE SHALL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF ANY PRIOR DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES (DAYANDOR AND BARI). THE LATTER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY WILL NOW BE VISITING HANOI NEXT WEEK (PROBABLY 21 JULY.).
WILSON
YYYY
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