CONFIDENTIAL
01 56
MDHIAN 2939
(A) WE AGREE WITH YOUR EARLIER ASSESSMENT THAT SECRECY OVER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE IS FUELLING SUSPICION OVER OUR
INTENTIONS. THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE GAINED FROM CONCLUDING THE
AGREEMENT QUICKLY AND BRIEFING THE MAIN CPA PLAYERS ON ITS CONTENTS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BRIEF LEGCO AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WILL OF COURSE
BE DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME WITH THE VIETNAMESE. THEY HAVE SAID
CONSISTENTLY THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO TAKE BACK PERSONS WHO PHYSICALLY OPPOSE REPATRIATION. THEY HAVE ALSO INSISTED ON SECRECY.
WE SHALL HAVE TO ADDRESS BOTH POINTS BEFORE CONCLUDING THE AGREMENT
AND EMBARKING ON A ROUND OF BRIEFINGS. WE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE
DIFFICULTIES IN PERSUADING THE VIETNAMESE TO MOVE ON THESE TWO
ISSUES. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR HANOI'S ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY
VIETNAMESE REACTION.
(B) THE MAIN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR SC3 WILL BE A REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME AND CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. IF WE ARE TO GENERATE SOME DEGREE OF URGENCY IN THESE
DELIBERATIONS AND AVOID ACCUSATIONS OF BAD FAITH LATER WE THINK WE
SHOULD STATE OUR POSITION AND INTENTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE RECOMMEND THAT WE MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE MAIN CPA PLAYERS THAT IN OUR EXPERIENCE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ALONE
WILL NEVER BE AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION BECAUSE IT OPERATES ON TOO SMALL
A SCALE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECAUSE IT IS NO (NO) DETERRENT TO CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES. WE SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
WAIT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE
REALITY OF THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND THAT WE MUST IMPLEMENT A MANDATORY REPATRIATION SCHEME VERY SOON AFTER SC3. OUR OBJECTIVES AT
SC3 WOULD THEN BE TO GAIN GENERAL INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF OUR
PLANNED REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AND TO PERSUADE UNHCR TO MONITOR THE
WELFARE OF RETURNEES.
(C) MEANWHILE FINANCE COMMITTEE REMAINS HOSTILE TO ANY SUGGESTION
THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO APPROACH THEM FOR FUNDS TO COVER THE
CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL DETENTION CENTS CAPACITY OR FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION TO MEET OUR RECURRENT REQUIREMENTS. THEY ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN HOSTILE UNTIL THE MANDATORY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME
IS IN PLACE. WE ARE THEREFORE RELUCTANT TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR FUNDS
TO COVER OUR IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPITAL AND RECURRENT FUNDS. IF WE ARE TO AVOID A DAMAGING CONFRONTATION WITH FC ON THIS ISSUE WE SHALL HAVE TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDS. AN
INTERNATIONAL APPEAL THROUGH UNHCR IS ONE OBVIOUS OPTION AND WE
SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR UKMIS GENEVA'S VIEW ON THE PROSPECTS FOR A FURTHER APPEAL. SEEN FROM HERE, UNHCR ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND THIS IDEA
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL