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MDHOAN 9521
HKB 243 la
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FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
TELNO 415
OF 12110OZ DECEMBER 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: NON VOLUNTARY RETURN PROGRAMME: NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE
1 FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS MINISTERS ARE ANXIOUS TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS
'WITH SUCH MODIFICATIONS AS BOTH SIDES CONSIDER NECESSARY' AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE 26 JUNE AGREEMENT. PLEASE APPROACH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WHICH YOU THINK APPROPRIATE TO MAKE THIS CLEAR AND TO SEEK VIETNAMESE VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD. IN DOING SO YOU SHOULD CONVEY MINISTERS' THANKS FOR VIETNAMESE COOPERATION IN BRINGING THE FIRST REPATRIATION TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.
2 YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT OUR PRELIMINARY VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD ADOPT A THREE-FOLD APPROACH: REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO AREAS
WHERE MANY CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES TAKE PLACE RATHER THAN INCREASED DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL RETURNEES, TO BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF NGOS: A TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME: AND A READINESS TO PLAY A MORE
POSITIVE ROLE IN DISCUSSION IN AND WITH THE IFIS. YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT OUR WILLINGNESS TO MOVE ON ANY OR ALL OF THESE FRONTS DEPENDS ON SATISFACTORY ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE
SIDE THAT A REGULAR PROGRAMME OF NON-VOLUNTARY RETURNS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND DEVELOPED SWIFTLY.
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO AREAS WHERE MANY CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES TAKE PLACE
3 THE 26 JUNE AGREEMENT ITSELF REFERS TO THE VIETNAMESE VIEW THAT DEVELOPMENT AID TO AREAS WHICH GIVE RISE TO BOAT PEOPLE IS NECESSARY. WE SEE ADVANTAGES IN THIS APPROACH, NOT LEAST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ABSURD TO INCREASE THE PER CAPITA ASSISTANCE AND END UP PAYING MORE TO NON-VOLUNTEERS THAN TO VOLUNTEERS. IF ANYTHING, A DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD BE CREATED THE OTHER WAY ROUND. WE WISH TO EXPLORE THIS APPROACH FURTHER WITH THE VIETNAMESE. FUNDS MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY LORD ENNALS AND MR DUBS DURING THEIR RECENT VISIT. THE VIETNAMESE MAY ENVISAGE A GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT AID PROGRAMME FOR AREA DEVELOPMENT. OUR VIEW, THE CHANCES OF ACHIEVING WORTHWHILE RESULTS BY THIS
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