CONFIDENTIAL
167717
MDHOAN 6039
THESE PEOPLE ON THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM.
WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD
HELP TO ESTABLISH A GOOD ATMOSPHERE FOR THIS EXERCISE, AND COULD ALSO HELP ENCOURAGE OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO COME FORWARD.
AN ASSURANCE BY THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES THAT ACTION
AGAINST THOSE RETURNING WOULD BE CONFINED TO A WARNING WOULD BE
IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED.
(DEFENSIVE POINTS)
(ACCEPTANCE OF THIS GROUP DEPENDS ON REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE FOR THEM.) CANNOT SEE THE RELEVANCE OF REINTEGRATION
ASSISTANCE FOR THIS FIRST BATCH OF RETURNEES. ALL HAVE
ASKED TO GO BACK, AND HAVE DONE SO IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE. AS INDICATED IN THE LAST ROUND OF TALKS, WE DO NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LIMITED FORM OF ASSISTANCE FROM HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR A UNHCR PROGRAMME TO HELP WITH THE REINTEGRATION OF RETURNEES. BUT
WE MUST EMPHASIZE THAT THIS COULD ONLY BE AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH THE RETURN OF ALL (ALL) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING IN HONG KONG AFTER 16 JUNE. (THE PROPER PLACE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE IS UNDER THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.)
(WHY DOES PROCESSING OF VOLUNTEERS TAKE SO LONG?) (SQUARE BRACKETS BEGINS) SECTION TO BE PROVIDED BY HKG (SQUARE BRACKETS CLOSE).
8.
9. (CANNOT CONSIDER FIRST RETURNEES IN ADVANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE
PACKAGE) AS EXPLAINED EARLIER IT IS NOW WIDELY KNOWN THAT THESE
PEOPLE ARE COMING FORWARD. THERE IS NO (NO) REASON TO DELAY IN DEALING WITH THEM. THIS WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP
TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT. FOR THE REASONS ALREADY GIVEN, WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD PRESS AHEAD WITH THESE NOW TO ESTABLISH THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TWO SIDES' INTENTION TO COOPERATE TO FIND A
DURABLE GLOBAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
ENDS
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
99
ΜΑΙΝ
95
[]
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
NEWS
PS
HKD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
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CONFIDENTIAL