137)
CONFIDENTIAL
HKCB
140676 MDHIAN 4017
24319
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2437
OF 20120OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, WASHINGTON
122
G122
OUR TELNO 2404: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION:
PRESS HANDLING
1. RELAYED REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH PRESS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMMINENT RETURN OF NON-VOLUNTEERS, HAVE AROUSED A GREAT DEAL OF LOCAL PRESS INTEREST. TODAY, THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 20 JULY CONTAINS A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE ENTITLED QUOTE MANDATORY REPATRIATION FOR 22 VIETS UNQUOTE. THE ARTICLE GIVES FAIRLY FULL AND ACCURATE DETAILS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE AND PLANS FOR THE FIRST REPATRIATION WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS SUBJECT TO THE CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE. THE REPORT STATES THAT THE BROAD PRINCIPLES OF AN AGREEMENT FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH THE VIETNAMESE, ALTHOUGH NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL CONTINUING ON DETAILS, THAT 22 PERSONS WILL BE IN THE FIRST GROUP TO BE RETURNED, THAT A DRAGONAIR 737 WILL BE USED, AND THAT THE GROUP WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AND POLICE.
2. THE PRESSLINE WE PROPOSED EARLIER FOR PRE-REPATRIATION ENQUIRIES (OUR TELNO 2373) WILL PLAINLY NEED TO BE MODIFIED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS REPORT. IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUERIES WE SHALL AIM TO CONFINE
OURSELVES TO THE FOLLOWING LINE:
(A) WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CPA APPROVED IN GENEVA LAST MONTH, WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE SRV FOR THE REPATRIATION OF PERSONS WHOSE APPEALS FOR REFUGEE STATUS HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND WHO HAVE NOT
VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM
(B) NO FINAL DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND DISCUSSIONS ARE
CONTINUING.
3. IF PRESSED WE WOULD, IN ADDITION, DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING:
(A) THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF RETURNEES HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND THE VIETNAMESE HAVE GIVEN AN ASSURANCE THAT ANY PERSONS REPATRIATED WOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED FOR HAVING LEFT VIETNAM OR SUBJECT TO PERSECUTION AFTER THEIR RETURN
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