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the wait at Lowu, and the knowledge that volunteering could lead to
a quick move out of the camps and back home, would act as a strong
incentive to many to end the discomfort and uncertainty of life in
Hong Kong. I also believe that a systematic and regular flow would increasingly act as a 'reverse pull factor'. Once the plug is removed from the bath, the water will begin to run out. There will
be some crusty bits round the rim. I'll come on to those later.
(I have also not touched on the subject of increased counselling to
persuade people to volunteer: but this is one aspect we should
consider).
DETERRENTS
12. At the meeting on Tuesday 28 November, the Secretary of State
made the point that even if we were able to send back a few flights
of non-volunteers, we would not be able to achieve a flow sufficient
to deter another influx to Hong Kong next year. For this reason we
are now examining other possible deterrents, including a scheme for
quick screening and turn around of new arrivals. We should not,
however, discount the possible deterrent effect of a regular and
systematic flow back into North Vietnamese villages of 120, and then
250 people a week who have chosen to go back.
THE LACK OF SCREENED OUT VOLUNTEERS
uch of the psychology of our treatment of the
13. I believe that
screened out has be 1 misguided. They have been pampered with
attention and are illy aware that the eyes of the world are on
them. They are very politically aware: they know exactly when and
how to exploit international public attention. I recommend that
after they have been told of the screening decision, they should be
intensively counselled for a limited period, say one week, so that
their future is made absolutely clear to them. And then ignored.
Many might be tempted to join the flow back to Vietnam.
14. We will run out of volunteers at some stage, and reach the
crust on the bath rim. Even UNHCR have admitted privately that
there will be a hard core who will not volunteer.
agreement with the Vietnamese in place (as we now have it) and
Then, with our
GABAAJ (4)
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