We held talks with the Vietnamese in London in mid-October.
- At these talks they assured us that not only would boat people
returning not be punished; but, just as important, they were happy for the UNHCR to monitor all the arrangements established
for the reintegration of these people back into Vietnamese
life.
- The Vietnamese know only too well that not only Britain, but
the rest of the world will be watching very carefully to see that they honour the undertakings they have given.
- I firmly believe that it is not in their interests to renege in
any way on these assurances; and I do not think they will.
Indeed, we would not return anyone if we were not completely satisfied with the treatment they would receive.
2(b) The UNHCR have indicated that they will only take
responsibility for "volunteers".
We have been concentrating our immediate efforts on the return
of the boat people who have volunteered to go back.
- We hope that the arrangements being set up for their reception
and return to normal life will convince others to come
forward.
It
- We of course realise that this will not happen overnight.
will take time for the word to get round; and for people to realise that the arrangments work well and they have nothing
to fear.
- The arrangements we have made with the UNHCR naturally cover
the volunteers in the first phase and others that follow.