CONFIDENTIAL
440
061723
MDHIAN 7308
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 657
OF 040145Z DECEMBER 89
24319
HKB
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
(392)
YOUR TELNO 2345 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
REPATRIATION
D
1 I TOO HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE, FOR, APART FROM OTHER REASONS, IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THE EXISTING FACILITIES AND PROCEDURES CANNOT COPE WITH MORE THAN A FEW HUNDRED RETURNEES A MONTH. THUS SOMETHING MORE WILL BE NEEDED IF WE ARE TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL REPATRIATION SCHEME: THE CURRENT FLOW OF RETURNEES HAS OF COURSE NOT EVEN KEPT UP WITH THE OFF-SEASON FLOW OF NEW ARRIVALS.
2. DURING A RECENT INFORMAL DISCUSSION WITH LE THO OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT I REMONSTRATED WITH HIM ABOUT THE CONTINUING EXODUS, SAID THAT WE SHOULD REALLY HAVE TO START THINKING OF WAYS OF RETURNING LARGER NUMBERS AND PUT TO HIM AS MY PERSONAL VIEW THAT THERE SHOULD BE A HOLDING CAMP IN VIETNAM. HE SEEMED MORE EMBARRASSED BY THAN OPPOSED TO THE IDEA BUT DID NOT REACT BADLY. (YOU WILL HAVE SEEN MY TELNO 649 ON A RETATED SUBJECT-PARA 8 REFERS.
3. I AM SURE THE VIETNAMESE WILL BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANY NEW THOUGHTS WE MAY PUT TO THEM, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY WILL FEEL BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THE CPA: THEY HAVE MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR TO US THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BILATERAL DEALS. WE SHOULD SEEK TO TURN THIS TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
4. ANY NEW FACILITIES OR ARRANGEMENTS ARE LIKELY TO COST THE VIETNAMESE MONEY AND THEY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SEEK TO HAVE THE COST MET BY US. THEY WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE EXTORTIONATE IN THEIR DEMANDS, BUT THEY WILL CERTAINLY TAKE LONGER THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSITION WE PUT. THERE IS I BELIEVE ON THEIR SIDE A SERIOUS INTERNAL POLITICAL PROBLEM OVER THIS ISSUE, WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THE
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