CONFIDENTIAL
225
046756 MDHIAN 2939
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2799
OF 220725Z AUGUST 89
HKE
2+3 19
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA
PERSONAL FOR PAUL FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 1736 AND OUR TELNO 2798: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. WE HAVE REPORTED IN SECOND TUR THE RESULTS OF OUR COUNSELLING WORK WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED. THE GENERAL CONCLUSION IS THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF MOUNTING A SUCCESSFUL REPATRIATION OPERATION WITH NON-VOLUNTEERS UNLESS THE POLICE AND CSD
ARE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO USE THEIR NORMAL REPATRIATION PROCEDURES.
2. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ASSESSMENT AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORCE OF THE ARGUMENT FOR A POSTPONEMENT BEYOND SC3. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE TO POSTPONE THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP UNTIL AFTER MID OCTOBER WE SHALL HAVE TO PREPARE A STRATEGY NOT ONLY TO BRING THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS CLOSER TO OUR POSITION AS YOU HAVE SUGGESTED, BUT ALSO TO ASSUAGE DEMANDS HERE FOR EARLY AND EFFECTIVE ACTION. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. A
DELAY BEYOND MID-OCTOBER MAKES THIS INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
LEGCO REASSEMBLES ON 11 OCTOBER AND MEMBERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT
THEY INTEND TO DEBATE THE VBP ISSUE EARLY IN THE NEW SESSION. UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TANGIBLE PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY REPATRIATION, MEMBERS ARE LIKELY TO CALL FOR A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF POLICY. THIS IS MOST LIKELY TO TAKE THE FORM OF A CALL TO
END THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY AND WE JUDGE THAT SUCH A MOTION WOULD GAIN GENERAL SUPPORT IN LEGCO.
3. THE SC3 MEETING IN MID-OCTOBER IS NOW FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AS THE MAIN FEATURE ON OUR HORIZON. IF WE ARE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE HERE THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS A LONG TERM SOLUTION WE NEED TO BE IN A POSITION TO IMPLEMENT MANDATORY REPATRIATION BEFORE THE END OF OCTOBER. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BECOME EMBROILED IN A LONG ROUND OF FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. WE NEED THEREFORE TO RECONSIDER OUR TACTICS IN THE RUN UP TO SC3. SEEN FROM HERE, THERE ARE THREE MAIN ELEMENTS TO THIS CHANGE OF APPROACH:
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