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CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 243/9
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124301
MDLIAN 6512
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 364
OF 14080OZ JULY 99
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
VBP: REPATRIATION
1.
THIS EMBASSY WILL OF COURSE DO ALL THAT IT CAN TO FACILITATE AND MONITOR THE FIRST BATCHES OF NON-VOLUNTARY RETRURNS OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG THAT WILL RESULT
FROM OUR CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE. I OF
COURSE CONSIDER THIS OUR TOP PRIORITY.
2.
ALSO I DO NOT WISH TO POKE MY NOSE WHERE IT IS UNWELCOME
INTO ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT HMA MAY BE HAVING WHILST HOME ON
LEAVE ABOUT FUTURE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS EMBASSY. HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE MY VERY PRELIMINARY VIEWS ABOUT WHAT EFFECT A DESIRABLE PROGRAMME OF 'NON VOLUNTARY'' RETURNS
MIGHT HAVE ON THIS EMBASSY.
3=
-
THERE ARE CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 30,000 POTENTIALLY SCREENED OUT BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND OF COURSE MORE ARRIVING ALL OF THE
TIME. LET US HOPE THAT MOST WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO VIETNAM VOLUNTARILY OR UNDER SOME MECHANISM ARRISING FROM THE CPA AGREED AT GENEVA THAT THE UNHCR WILL FEEL ABLE TO ADMINISTER. IF THIS TURNS OUT NOT TO BE THE CASE WE MIGHT BE LANDED WITH THE PROBLEM OF ADMINISTERING, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM, SUCH A PROGRAMME OUR- SELVES. IF WE ARE TO SOLVE HONG KONG'S PROBLEM IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME SCALE, IE THE 3 YEARS THAT IT SHOULD TAKE TO RESETTLE THE REFUGEES, WE COULD WELL ENVISAGE AT LEAST A FEW HUNDREDS (SAY ONE WIDE-BODIED JET LOAD) A WEEK RETURNING TO VIETNAM.
4.
THIS MEANS THAT EVERY WEEK (OF COURSE OUT OF PHASE WITH THE ACTUAL RETURNS) WE WILL HAVE TO RECEIVE FROM HONG KONG AND PASS ON TO THE VIETNAMESE THE PERSONAL DETAILS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED POTENTIAL RETURNEES. THE VIETNAMESE WILL THEN NO DOUBT HAVE QUERIES ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF SOME RETURNEES WHICH WE SHALL NEED TO PROCESS AND PASS ON TO HONG KONG. HONG KONG WILL NO DOUBT HAVE AMENDMENTS OF THEIR OWN TO MAKE ARISING FROM BIRTHS, DEATHS AND OTHER FACTORS (AS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED WITH THE FIRST BATCH OF 26) WHICH WE SHALL HAVE TO PASS ON TO THE VIETNAMESE. THE
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CONFIDENTIAL