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5.
There has been some disagreement between members of the Steering Committee on the precise interpretation of "reasonable time": we have maintained throughout that since screening was introduced in Hong Kong in June 1988, and the voluntary programme has been in existence for a number of months with disappointing results, a
"reasonable time" has already passed for Hong Kong, and we are therefore fully justified in pursuing "alternatives" under the terms of the Comprehensive Plan of Action, bilaterally (ie with the Vietnamese) if necessary
6. The Secretary of State asked whether the fate of non refugees
who did not volunteer was fudged at Geneva. The logic of the Comprehensive Plan of Action is that all those who are screened out
cannot be resettled and must therefore return to Vietnam. But the
means by which this should happen was not specified, other than the voluntary route. In practice this must eventually involve involuntary repatriation, with minimal use of force if necessary. Everyone recognises this, but few are ready to admit it openly. The wording of the Comprehensive Plan of Action represents the highest
common ground on which all could agree.
so it was fudge
бо
4
7. The Secretary of State asked when we expected to hear from UNHCR
on the questions of monitoring. We have now done so (UKMIS Geneva
telno 515). Hocke's response is helpful as far as it goes, but his insistence on no use of force although predictable and
understandable, could be a block on progress, if by this he means even minimal physical encouragement.
We shall need time to work on
Hocke (directly and through the Americans) but time, unfortunately, is not on Hong Kong's side (Hong Kong telno 2743).
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