CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
24319
13
130442
MDHOAN 5078
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 18010OZ HANOI
TELNO 252
OF 171745Z JULY 89
1
COPY
YOUR TELNOS 368 AND 370: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1
THIS IS ALL VERY TIRESOME. BUT IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD DO THEIR UTMOST TO ACHIEVE A DEAL ON A PAR WITH THEIR ARRANGEMENTS WITH UNHCR. THEY ALSO WELL UNDERSTAND THAT OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO PUT IN PLACE A REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS LEAVES US IN A WEAK POSITION. HAVE THEREFORE CONCLUDED, THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A FURTHER TOKEN CONCESSION WHICH WE HOPE WILL SECURE AGREEMENT. WE ARE PREPARED TO GO UP TO US DOLLARS 620 PER HEAD.
2. SUBJECT TO HONG KONG'S VIEWS WE SUGGEST YOU REVERT TO THE VIETNAMESE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
(A) MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN A CLOSE INTEREST IN THIS ARRANGEMENT AND WILL BE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT IS PROVING SO DIFFICULT TO REACH AGREEMENT.
(B) WE ARE BEING AS HELPFUL AS WE CAN. BUT WE HAVE REAL DIFFICULTIES. THE PROGRAMME UNDER DISCUSSION IS EXPENSIVE
IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS IN VIETNAM WE MUST ALSO MEET THE COSTS OF TRANSPORTATION TO VIETNAM.
(C) WE HAVE CAREFULLY REASSESSED OUR POSITION.
WE CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE THAT AN AMOUNT OF DOLLARS 600 PER HEAD, AS AN AVERGAGE FIGURE, WOULD PROVE MORE THAN ADEQUATE.
WE
(D) NEVERTHELESS, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES WHICH ARE INEVITABLY ASSOCIATED WITH ESTIMATING THE COSTS OF A NEW PROGRAMME AND AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL AND TO CLINCH AGREEMENT WE ARE PREPARED TO INCREASE OUR OFFER TO DOLLARS 620 PER HEAD. SINCE MANY OF THOSE RETURNING WILL BE IN FAMILY GROUPS WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS AMOUNT WILL BE ADEQUATE.
HOWE
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CONFIDENTIAL