CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2603
OF 05170OZ OCTOBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
52
TOP COPY 167717 DIST MDHOAN 6039
нко 24311s
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: PREPARATION FOR
FORTHCOMING TALKS.
AGENDA ITEM 3: THE FIRST RETURNEES: DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE
1. WE BELIEVE IT TO BE THE COMMON AIM OF THE TWO SIDES TO MAKE
EARLY PRACTICAL PROGRESS AT THESE TALKS. ONE AREA WHERE
SUCH PROGRESS CAN BE MADE IS THE REPATRIATION OF THE (300) PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOW VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. WE BELIEVE THAT
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THESE CASES NOW. IT IS WIDELY
KNOWN IN PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING
FORWARD. AND VIETNAM HAS PUBLICLY EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO
ACCEPT BACK THOSE WHO WISH TO RETURN. THERE IS GREAT
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN EARLY ACTION IN THIS UNCONTENTIOUS AREA. INDEED, THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE TWELVE ON 13 SEPTEMBER, PRESSED PARTICULARLY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY.
2. EARLY PROGRESS HERE WOULD CONSTITUTE THE FIRST IMPORTANT
STEPS TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US. THE RETURN OF THESE (300) PEOPLE WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT TO FUTURE DEPARTURES, AND WOULD BE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE TWO SIDES MEAN BUSINESS AND ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE TO FIND A DURABLE
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS A WHOLE.
3. HAND OVER LIST OF ALL (100) BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PROCESSED BY UNHCR. WE WILL PASS FURTHER NAMES TO YOU AS SOON AS THEY ARE
AVAILABLE.
4.
THE RETURN OF THESE PEOPLE COULD BE WELL PUBLICISED IN VIETNAM AND ELSEWHERE. THIS COULD HELP TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOLUNTEER TO RETURN. IT WOULD ENABLE US TO MOUNT A PROGRAMME TO COUNSEL BOAT PEOPLE IN THE CAMPS TO FACE THE FACT THAT THEIR FUTURE LIES IN VIETNAM, AND TO ASK TO GO BACK. 5.
AT OUR LAST MEETING IN AUGUST WE DISCUSSED BROAD ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF BOAT PEOPLE TO VIETNAM. THE HONG
KONG AUTHORITIES REMAIN READY TO DISCUSS FURTHER THE MODALITIES FOR THIS, TO COOPERATE IN ORGANISING RETURNEES INTO GROUPS AND IN PROVIDING STAFF TO ACCOMPANY THEM.
6.
WE ALSO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE COULD AGREE AN ASSURANCE, TO BE REFERRED TO PUBLICLY, ON THE TREATMENT OF
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CONFIDENTIAL