CONFIDENTIAL
COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 1915OOZ PARIS
TELNO 280
OF 19133OZ APRIL 89
MICD 243 DIST
(172)
166450
MDHOAN 9404
PLEASE PASS URGENTLY
FOR MCLAREN AUS (VISITING) AND APS/LORD GLENARTHUR
FROM PAUL, HKD
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: ANNOTATED AGENDA FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING, 20 APRIL 1989
1. MANDATORY REPATRIATION
-
IS HMG PREPARED TO COUNTENANCE THE PRINCIPLE OF MANDATORY
REPATRIATION?
CAN WE CONVINCE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN OPINION THAT ITIS A
HUMANITARIAN SOLUTION?
IF SO, SHOULD WE WORK FOR AGREEMENT AT GENEVA CONFERENCE ON TIMETABLE/MECHANISM TO IMPLEMENT IT?
IF NOT, CAN WE MAKE TACTICAL USE OF THE THREAT OF MANDATORY
REPATRIATION IN ORDER TO FOCUS MINDS ON THE IMMEDIATEY OF THE
PROBLEM AND THE NEED FOR A RAPID SOLUTION?
ARE WE PREPARED TO PRESS FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION AT THE
RISK OF ALIENATING THE AMERICANS OR UNHCR?
2. AID TO VIETNAM
ARE WE PREPARED TO CONTEMPLATE RESUMPTION OF AID TO VIETNAM
BEFORE WITHDRAWAL FROM CAMBODIA AS PRICE FOR MORE FORTHCOMING
VIETNAMESE ATTITUDE ON REPATRATION OR MUST WE WAIT ON CAMBODIA?
WOULD OTHER POTENTIAL DONORS (EG THE FRENCH AND JAPANESE) BE PREPARED TO MAKE SUCH A LINK?
- IS OUR BILATERAL PROGRAMME LIKELY TO BE SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO
OFFER REAL LEVERAGE?
WHAT FORM MIGHT AID TAKE? (EG SUPPORT FOR FIBRE OPTIC PROJECT, ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING OFFICER, REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE).
- WOULD THIS ONLY ENCOURAGE VIETNAM TO SEEK FURTHER
CONCESSIONS?
WOULD IT BE PREFERABLE TO HELP FINANCE A REGIONAL HOLDING
CENTRE INSTEAD (POINT 4 BELOW)
3. WAYS OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON VIETNAM OVER REPATRIATION
CAN WE MAKE MORE USE OF ASEAN, WHO MAY HAVE MORE LEVERAGE ON VIETNAM THAN THE UK? (EG POSSIBLE MEMBERSHIP OF ASEAN).
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