TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 54

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3.

solutions through incorporation in local communities of repatriation.

Nevertheless the idea is a positive and imaginative one, and might

be explored by UNHCR with any countries which are ready to offer

facilities or finance.

Processing Centres in Vietnam

9. The suggestion that potential emigrants from Vietnam should be

held in UNHCR camps in Vietnam until resettlement places are

available has been put forward by Rajaratnam (Singapore) in his

"six point plan" at the ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting in Bali.

(extract attached).

10. The idea is linked to the suggestion that the 30 May agreement

between Vietnam and UNHCR can be extended to cover all who might

wish to emigrate. (See separate brief). There is no indication so

far that the Vietnamese are ready to consider this option. But it

might be attractive to them as a Longer term source of foreign

exchange, and would in theory avoid the perils of "boat refugee

journeys". There are however serious objections to an idea which

could amount to the creation of UN concentration camps

concentration camps in Vietnam.

for those the Vietnamese consider politically undesirable, financed

indefinitely by the recipient states. We should oppose

proposal.

any such

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