CODE
18-77
Miss Harper
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
Reference
CONFIDENTIAL
MONITORING
March
ря
(244)
1.
I spoke yesterday to Martin Griffiths, Director of Planning at Save the Children Fund, about monitoring VBPS repatriated to Vietnam. I did not touch on the difficulties we are having with UNHCR in this area, nor did I go into detail on the specific circumstances under which the boat people might be repatriated. Instead, we discussed the idea in general terms of making use of SCF staff if and when they establish a presence in Vietnam (Mr Griffiths hopes this might be before the end of the year) or, alternatively, on the basis of periodic visits by staff outside the country. Naturally I made no commitment regarding Government funding but made it clear that this might be a possibility.
2.
Mr Griffiths said that SCF hoped to focus their operation in Ho Chi Minh City and the centre of Vietnam, and would concentrate on social and health services. He was doubtful whether they would have sufficient staff in place, at least in the early stages, to undertake extensive monitoring of boat people. But he did not rule out an ad hoc arrangement involving occasional visits from outside.
3.
This is encouraging, though SCF may have second thoughts once they realise we are talking about non-voluntary repatriation. But one step at a time. Clearly we need first to decide on our own strategy in the light of Hong Kong's revelation that identifying a worthwhile grey area group will be virtually impossible. shall also need to ensure, at the appropriate time, that the Vietnamese Government would not object to NGO, as opposed to UNHCR, involvement.
AGradion
A Godson
We
30 August
CC:
*
1989
PS/Mr Maude
Mr McLaren
Mr Colvin o/r
Mr Haswell, HKD
Mr Clements, RMD
Mr Partridge, Hanoi
MRLAJP
South East Asian Dept
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
243 19