CONFIDENTIAL
Preparations (conclusion of negotiations with Vietnamese,
Vietnamese bureaucratic procedures, practical arrangements including booking aircrafts) will take several weeks. Need therefore to begin now if we are to meet 31 October target for
full returns.
ート
(b) Risks and difficulties
This is me an exy gation to embarke
цвет.
H/ wes
up
disguise st
- Mandatory Repatriation inevitably entails serious risks and
difficulties :
6... 20,000
given any lawn.
сл
5
Pr. 24 Congress. Puted. Return to of over kites.
вперен.
US opposition. Scope for message to President Bush not to make life difficult? They ful
ас
ac cordations gille ortioning crog -ref. to Haiti.
vron-nof.
Lack of cooperation from UNHCR (need them to administer
programme, monitor returnees, which will otherwise have to be
done by Embassy in Hanoi). We should try to square Hocke. (UNHCR) Possible disturbances in camps.) Heger
Chants / Hanger alpices in cauft J.
Unfavourable international reaction if minimum force has to
be used (Hong Kong authorities would employ similar
procedures to those used in sending back Chinese illegal immigrants).
Vietnamese obstruction if there is an international outcry.
Even with their cooperation number likely to be small, at
least at first.
Media criticism (UK press has been consistently unhelpful on
the issue, eg false comparisons with Cossacks although now
beginning to see logic of mandatory repatriation). Domestic/Parliamentary criticism: must expect strong
reaction from refugee lobby among others.
fonil peurver
meschere
Blather your tow ou
sich
All this is un-
・promising.
(15) Case for proceeding
خود
Nevertheless convinced that we must grasp this nettle without
delay :
Unless we are seen by Hong Kong to be carrying out the logic
of the screening policy there is a serious risk that LegCo
will refuse to vote more funds for Vietnamese boat people.
CONFIDENTIAL