CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 569
OF 25110OZ FEBRUARY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
CONFIDENTIAL
53
107673
MDHIAN 4347
нка ого
14.
с.м
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, UKREP BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON
HANOI TELNOS 126 127: VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: ORP II.
1. THE VIETNAMESE RESPONSE TO MY LETTER IS DISAPPOINTING BUT NOT/NOT UNEXPECTED. AS HANOI NOTE (FIRST TUR), THE VIETNAMESE SERIOUSLY MISJUDGE POLITICAL REALITIES HERE IF THEY BELIEVE WE COULD GIVE A COMMITMENT TO ASSIST THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WITH REINTEGRATION BEFORE ORP II IS PROPERLY IN PLACE. AND OF COURSE I HAVE NO/NO POWER TO COMMIT LEGCO TO SUCH A CONTRIBUTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL ITSELF IS FULLY CONSULTED.
2. I HOPE THE AMBASSADOR WILL CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AT VIETNAMESE OBDURACY, AS HE PROPOSES. HE MIGHT MAKE THE POINT THAT THE VIETNAMESE SEEM TO HAVE CONFUSED THE CASE OF MIGRANT WORKERS WHOSE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED EARLY, AND FOR WHOM THE GERMANS FOR INSTANCE ARE NOW NEGOTIATING COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO THE VIETNAMESE, WITH THAT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LATTER IS ALL VIETNAMESE. WE HAVE BEEN CARING FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SINCE 16 JUNE 1988. RATHER THAN PAY THE VIETNAMESE TO RETURN THEM, WE SHOULD PERHAPS ASK THE VIETNAMESE TO REIMBURSE TO US A PART OF OUR USD100 MILLION ANNUAL EXPENDITURE (EXCLAM).
3. WE DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF MAKING A COMMITMENT TO PAY ASSISTANCE LINKED TO ALLEGED SAVINGS AS CAMPS ARE CLOSED. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, BE PREPARED, ONCE ORP II IS UNDERWAY AND WORKING WELL, TO PUT A PROPOSAL TO EXCO AND FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD ASSIST WITH IMPROVING REINTEGRATION FACILITIES IN VIETNAM, PROVIDED THIS WOULD ACHIEVE AN INCREASE IN RECEPTION CAPACITY IN VIETNAM FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF RETURNEES. WE HAVE IN MIND A TARGET OF AT LEAST 1500 RETURNEES EACH MONTH.
4. WE MUST MEANWHILE SEE QUAYLE HAS HAD A SERIOUS AND WITHDRAWALS FROM THE
HOW THINGS GO WITH THE VOLUNTARY SCHEME. AFFECT ON THE RATE OF NEW APPLICATIONS SCHEME. UNHCR HAVE ALREADY TRIED TO
PAGE i
1
CONFIDENTIAL