THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT MAY OPPOSE INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. HOWEVER, THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR CO THACH, TOLD THE LAST BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN HANOI DURING A FAREWELL CALL THAT A BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE WELCOME IN HANOI BOTH DISCUSS THE HONG KONG REFUGEE PROBLEM AS WELL AS A GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. THIS OFFER OF TALKS WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER. THIS IS AN OFFER WHICH SHOULD NOT BE DISGARDED IF ONLY BECAUSE IT WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
OFFICIAL VIETNAMESE THINKING.
THERE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS IN TRANSPORTING THE VRS BACK TO VIETNAM BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE OVERCOME. WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLES WAYS OF DOING SO.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER THE OPTION, ALBEIT OBJECTIONABLE IN HUMANITARIAN TERMS, OF TURNING ARRIVALS AWAY AS HAS BEEN DONE BY CHINA, SINGAPORE AND MACAU WITH CONSIDERABLE
SUCCESS.
LINE TO TAKE
1. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO TRY TO PERSUADE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME (5,250 HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG
FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS).
2. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS IT CAN BE STATED THAT MOST VRS NOW COME HERE FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. EVERY ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN TO THEM, IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR JOURNEY OR GO BACK TO VIETNAM. IF THEY DECIDE TO STAY, THEY ARE DETAINED IN CLOSED CENTRES AND ARE TREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG LAW AND THE UN CONVENTION
AND PROTOCOL ON REFUGEES.
3. HONG KONG JUST CANNOT CONTINUE TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES GIVEN ITS NECESSARY POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES. IF THE NUMBERS START TO RISE AGAIN WITHOUT A SIMILAR INCREASE IN RESETTLEMENT PLACES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER AGAIN THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDING REPATRIATION AND REFUSING PERMISSION
TO LAND IN HONG KONG.
YOUDE
MINIMAL
HKAGD
SEAD
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
UND
MavD
COPIES TO:
HKAGO. LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
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