CONFIDENTIAL
first asylum and against the building of additional accommodation
for boat people.
11. The Americans (and UNHCR) have so far refused to support
anything other than purely voluntary repatriation. They attach great importance to "preserving" the Comprehensive Plan of Action
(CPA) by which we believe them to mean that, for self-protection vis-a-vis Congress and the American press, they have to demonstrate
that the voluntary repatriation provided for under the CPA has been tried and has shown to be inadequate. The importance of the CPA was stressed by Secretary Baker to the Secretary of State in Paris in
July (Paris telno 1014).
12.
American concerns about mandatory repatriation from Hong Kong are also related to Malaysia and Thailand. They believe that once mandatory repatriation has started from Hong Kong, the Malaysians and Thais will follow suit immediately and will be less scrupulous in the methods they use. We argue that Hong Kong is a special case (because it is more than one year ahead with screening, is suffering from cholera, riots, etc.).
13. A series of talks with the Americans at official level in Washington has followed up points raised by Secretary Baker in July and helped clear up factual misunderstandings. Ministers have accepted that no action on involuntary repatriation should be taken before SC3 in October.
14. We can then argue that voluntary repatriation has in the meantime been given a chance to work but is inadequate to meet the scale of the problem. The International Conference in June accepted that non-refugees should return to their country of origin. Alternatives must be considered. We should use SC3 to win as much support as possible for mandatory repatriation.
CONFIDENTIAL