CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 4681
OF 28110OZ DECEMBER 88
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
ON TOP COPY
оль
972
117237
MDHIAN 6811
965
1966
HANOI TELNO 69 AND UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 761: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: BILATERAL AGREEMENT
THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF THE REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS SEEM TO BE FALLING INTO PLACE AND WE HOPE THAT H OF C IN HANOI WILL BE ABLE TO SEE VU KHOAN SOON TO FINALISE THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT.
2. WE SHARE THE UNHCR VIEW AS EXPLAINED IN PARA 2 OF SECOND TUR THAT THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD COVER THEIR OWN TRAVEL AND LIVING COSTS FOR THE TRIP TO HONG KONG. WE WOULD NOT WANT TO JEOPARDISE THE REPATRIATION SCHEME BUT WE SHARE UNHCR'S VIEW THAT A TRIP TO HONG KONG BY VIETNAMES OFFICIALS IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO GET THE SCHEME INTO OPERATION. INDEED, IF THE VISIT TO MALAYSIA IS TO BE TAKEN AS
A GUIDE, SUCH A VISIT MIGHT BE UNHELPFUL.
3. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO SUCH A VISIT, THE NEED FOR IT HAS NEVER BEEN ENTIRELY CLEAR TO US. WE SHOULD PREFER ALL VETTING PROCEDURES TO BE CARRIED OUT IN VIETNAM SO THAT THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WOULD SIMPLY ISSUE THE ENTRY PERMITS WHILE IN HONG KONG IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST BATCH OF RETURNEES.
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.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
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