CONFIDENTIAL
177707
MDHOAN 2730
ACTION WITH THE VIETNAMESE
8. IF YOU AGREE WITH THE ABOVE, WE PROPOSE THAT HANOI SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS TO THE VIETNAMESE NEXT WEEK:
(A) WE ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE OUTCOME OF THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS, AND WE EXPECT TO BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE PROPOSALS ON THE TIMING AND VENUE OF A SECOND ROUND IN THE COURSE OF SEPTEMBER:
(C)
(B) IN THE MEANTIME WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR INFORMATION ON THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES, ON THE BASIS OF THE AGREEMENT REACHED IN THE FIRST ROUND, ΤΟ LIMIT DEPARTURES. BRACKETS YOU WOULD NEED TO SUPPLY UP TO DATE DETAILS OF THE TREND OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG CLOSE BRACKETS. PROGRESS ON THIS FRONT WOULD CREATE A FAVOURABLE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS: A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME FORWARD IN HONG KONG ASKING TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. WE ARE ASKING UNHCR TO PASS THEIR DETAILS QUICKLY TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. THE EARLY AND WELL-PUBLICISED RETURN TO VIETNAM OF THIS GROUP (AMOUNTING TO JUST OVER ONE HUNDRED) WOULD GREATLY ASSIST THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO DISCOURAGE DEPARTURES. IT WOULD ALSO BE A COMPELLING DEMONSTRATION OF THE GOOD FAITH OF THE VIETNAMESE IN SEEKING A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. WE GREATLY HOPE THAT PROGRESS CAN BE MADE OVER THE RETURN OF THIS GROUP EVEN IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE READY TO ASSIST IN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE VOLUNTEERS' EARLY REPATRIATION.
ACTION WITH UNHCR
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9. SUBJECT TO YOUR COMMENTS ON ALL THE ABOVE WE ALSO ENVISAGE SENDING FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS TO UKMIS GENEVA:
(B)
(A) TO ASK UNHCR TO PROCESS QUICKLY THE PERSONAL DETAILS OF
THE VOLUNTEERS AND PASS THEM TO THE VIETNAMESE: TO URGE GREATER FLEXIBILITY OVER THE TIMING AND MODALITIES OF FURTHER ACTION RELATED TO REPATRIATION, ON THE LINES OF PARAS 4-5 ABOVE.
(SECON
10. WE DO NOT INCIDENTALLY THINK THERE IS ANY SUGGESTION TUR) ON THE PART OF UNHCR THAT THEY SHOULD NOT PLAY A ROLE IN TH SCREENING AND APPEALS PROCEDURES IN HONG KONG. MISS WALKER'S LETTER OF 15 AUGUST, WHICH WE ARE COPYING TO YOU, REPORTS REMARKS BY DE MELLO WHICH NOTE YOUR CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH KARIM ON
SCREENING.
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CONFIDENTIAL