Mr Hashell Ir
RM 29/5 vy
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Paul, HKD
(27
HK B
24319
ECEIVE
04 SEP 1989
From: A R Brenton
United Nations Dept
Date: 25 August 1989
CC: Mr Gillmore
Mr Slater
Mr McLaren
PS/Mr Maude
PS/Mr Sainsbury SEAD
News Department
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. With the demise of the 'grey area' I see that mandatory repatriation is again under active consideration.
2. So be it. But I do hope that we can firmly reject Hong Kong's view (paragraph 4 of their telno 2832) that voluntary repatriation can only ever be a partial solution and that mandatory repatriation should run in parallel with it whatever happens. As seen from UND mandatory repatriation is very much a second best option. Even if we can get the assent of the Vietnamese and can find a respectable body to monitor the treatment of the returnees it is a policy with real costs, particularly if (as seems certain) we have to use force. It would earn strong press and public criticism, and would damage our relations with the US and UNHCR, as well as our human rights reputation generally. And (pace Hong Kong) it is not, of course, the only deterrent to the boat people who currently face an open ended sojourn in the extremely unpleasant conditions of the camps.
3.
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I therefore hope that in the event that the rate of voluntary return rises to a point where the physical and political pressure in Hong Kong diminishes significantly we could put the mandatory option back in the closet. This would be in conformity with the CPA, which explicitly reserves the use of "alternatives" for a situation where voluntary repatriation has failed to work.
MONADM
ARRE
AR BRENTON
CONFIDENTIAL