SECRET
398
031016
MDHIAN 5832
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3876
OF 231245Z NOVEMBER 89
HK B 243 ja
OPY
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. DEFENSIVE PRESS LINE ON REPATRIATION PLANS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
WE HAVE ALWAYS MADE CLEAR THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRM INTENTION
TO WORK TOWARDS A SOLUTION TO THE VBP PROBLEM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION WHICH WAS AGREED BY THE WORLD
COMMUNITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN GENEVA IN JUNE 1989.
2. THE TERMS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT CLEARLY PROVIDE FOR THE RETURN TO VIETNAM OF ALL THOSE PERSONS DETERMINED, AFTER THOROUGH SCREENING IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNHCR PROCEDURES AND AFTER APPEAL, NOT TO BE REFUGEES. WE HAVE ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPLEMENT THIS COMPONENT OF THE CPA WELL BEFORE THE NEXT SAILING SEASON WHICH STARTS IN SPRING 1990.
3. WE HAVE NOTHING SPECIFIC TO ANNOUNCE AT THIS STAGE.
ENDS.
4.
IF ASKED WHETHER AN AGREEMENT ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION HAS BEEN
CONCLUDED WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING DEFENSIVE LINE.
BEGINS.
DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN CONCLUDED. NOT PREPARED TO
COMMENT FURTHER ON THE PROGRESS OF DISCUSSIONS.
ENDS.
WILSON
YYYY
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