CONFIDENTIAL
0316
MDHIA 0016
MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO REINTEGRATION. THIS SHOULD NOT/NOT BE IN THE FORM OF PAYMENTS ON A PER HEAD BASIS, NOR SHOULD IT BE RELATED TO SAVINGS ACHIEVED HERE THROUGH A REDUCTION IN THE CAMP POPULATION. WE MIGHT, HOWEVER, OFFER TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADDITIONAL RECEPTION AND REINTEGRATION FACILITIES IN THE REGIONAL CENTRES, AND IN THE MAIN CITIES FROM WHICH MOST OF THE MIGRANTS CAME. ANY HONG KONG GRANT OF THIS KIND WOULD NEED TO BE LINKED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND TO BE TIED TO A VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN A RETURN PROGRAMME FROM HONG KONG OF AT LEAST 1500 PERSONS EVERY MONTH (I.E. A 3 YEAR CAMP CLEARANCE PROGRAMME). TO SELL SUCH A PROPOSAL TO LEGCO, WE WOULD NEED TO SHOW THAT THE UNHCR AND U.K. WERE CONTRIBUTING ALSO.
COMMENT
5. ON THE BASIS OF TODAY'S BRIEF DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT SOME SORT OF PROPOSAL FOR A CAPITAL GRANT TO THE VIETNAMESE TO IMPROVE RECEPTION FACILITIES IN THE MAIN CENTRES MAY BE SALEABLE TO LOCAL OPINION. BUT CERTAINLY NOT UNTIL THE ORP HAS BEEN WORKING FULLY FOR SOME TIME. WE WOULD ALSO NEED TO GET THE VIETNAMESE TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND COSTS WHICH WE MIGHT AGREE TO PUT
TO LEGCO FOR FUNDING. AT THIS PRESENT STAGE WE COULD ONLY TELL THE VIETNAMESE THAT IF BOTH REPATRIATION SCHEMES WORK WELL, WE WOULD PLAN TO PUT SUCH A PROPOSAL TO LEGCO DURING THE SUMMER.
6. I AM SURE THAT A KEY FACTOR IN GETTING THIS THROUGH LEGCO WOULD BE THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION THAT HMG WERE PREPARED TO MAKE TO SUCH A SCHEME. ON THE BASIS OF PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS IN LEGCO, I ANTICIPATE MEMBERS WOULD LOOK FOR AT LEAST 50 PER CENT FUNDING FROM THE U.K.
7. I DOUBT IF IT WOULD SERVE ANY PURPOSE TO TRY TO PUSH UNHCR TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FURTHER SCHEME. RATHER WE SHOULD PRESS THEM TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THEIR EXISTING TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL RETURNEE, WITH WHATEVER REFINEMENTS COULD USEFULLY BE INTRODUCED TO MEET VIETNAMESE CONCERNS.
8 =
FORD
HKD PLEASE PASS TO PS/GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG (VISITING).
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