CONFIDENTIAL
075423
MDLIAN 4327
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REPATRIATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT VIETNAM
ILLEGALLY ON A (STRICTLY) VOLUNTARY BASIS AND UNDER INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE : AND (B) SCREENING AND REPATRIATION (PARAS 3(A) AND (B)
OF FIRST TUR).
5. ON (A) IT WAS AGREED THAT ALL INVITED FOR BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS
WITH VIETNAM SHOULD SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM THE VIETNAMESE
AUTHORITIES ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS AND THE TERMS OF THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO CONSIDER REPATRIATION. ALL AGREED THAT VIETNAM'S AGREEMENT TO
ACCEPT THE REPATRIATION OF THOSE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES
(WHETHER THEY WISHED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM OR NOT) WOULD BE CENTRAL TO
AN EFFECTIVE PACKAGE OF MEASURES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. UNHCR (WHOSE DELEGATION WOULD BE IN HANOI 20 22 JULY) AGREED TO INFORM
ASEAN AND HONG KONG OF THE OUTCOME OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS (TO THE
EXTENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE VIETNAMESE) AND MALAYSIA, THAILAND AND HONG
KONG REPRESENTATIVES AGREED SIMILARLY TO INFORM UNHCR AND OTHERS CONCERNED OF VIETNAM'S LINE IN BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM
(SUBJECT TO THE SAME PROVISO).
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6. AS REGARDS SCREENING THE THAI DELEGATION BRIEFED THE MEETING ON
THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH SCREENING LAOTIANS AND THEIR VIEWS ON WHY THIS
HAD NOT PROVED PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL. THE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE
BRIEFED THE MEETING ON HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY AND SCREENING
PROCEDURES. ASEAN REPRESENTATIVES GENERALLY FELT THAT SCREENING OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, WHILE ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE, SHOULD ONLY BE INTRODUCED WHEN SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN AGREED FOR THE
PROMPT REPATRIATION OF THOSE SCREENED OUT AND THE PROMPT RESETTLEMENT
OF THOSE SCREENED IN. THIS DIFFERENCE OF VIEW WAS BASED ON THE THAIS'
STANDPOINT WHICH IN TURN RESULTS FROM THEIR CURRENT POLICY
OF TREATING ALL (UNDERLINED) NEW ARRIVALS OF BOAT PEOPLE AS
DISPLACED PERSONS WITHOUT ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT.
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THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES REFERRED TO ''OTHER FACTORS' AND
I WIDER HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS (NO SPECIFICS) TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOU–
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NT IN SCREENING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THOSE
SCREENED OUT REMAINED OF CONCERN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
UNTIL THEY COULD RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ''IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY''. UNHCR NEVERTHELESS SUPPORTED SCREENING IN PRINCIPLE AND
ACCEPTED THAT THOSE SCREENED OUT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
8. AS REGARDS REPATRIATION, DISCUSSION OF MODALITIES'' - WHICH WE TAKE TO MEAN HOW, WHEN, BY WHOM AND WHO PAYS - WAS CONSPICUOUS BY ITS ABSENCE.
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CONFIDENTIAL