1.
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
4. It may be that Tin himself misunderstood what had been said
(though this is doubtful since each side had a competent
interpreter present throughout the talks). However, Khoan was
left in no doubt that there could be no question of bilateral aid
since McLaren emphasized the point when Khoan took him aside on
the second day of the talks (FCO telno 2670).
5. You will have seen the worrying report in Hong Kong telno
4281 that a number of boat people have decided not to proceed
with their requests to return to Vietnam and that others may
follow suit. The disastrous visit by Vietnamese officials to
for Pulau Bidong refugee camp in Malaysia is also an unhelpful development (Kuala Lumpur telno 635). In addition, to making
clear our position on reintegration assistance, therefore, you
should express concern at the delay in putting in place practical arrangements for the return of boat people. Yhuge the
Vietnamese Government to conclude the Memorandum of Understanding with the UNHCR as quickly as possible and to provide Hong Kong with the necessary detailed information to enable repatriation of
the first group of returnees to take place soon. In doing so,
you should remind them of our common objective of achieving this
before the end of the year and also remind them of the
consequences both for the boat people and Vietnam's international
standing if there are further undue delays in implementing a successful repatriation programme.
6. (For Geneva). We should also be grateful if UKMIS Geneva
would contact UNHCR to establish where things stand on the draft
MOU and to see what more might be done to speed up the
repatriation arrangements.
HOWE
YYYY
???
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