TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 69

KKK243/5

coppie Repatriatic

1 1 FEB 1983-

Sedib

See (24 See 69

INDEX

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 631

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HANOI 08070OZ FEB 83

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 037 OF 8 FEBRUARY

INFO HONG KONG UKMIS GENEVA UKMIS NEW YORK WASHINGTON

Mw.fix

SEND will now tabmit to 5/5.

We must see draft.

Th

FOR SEAD

YOUR TELNO 040: REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE

1. I FULLY APPRECIATE THE SCALE AND URGENCY OF THE PROBLEM WHICH

THE CONTINUING INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES POSES FOR HONG KONG,

AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL NEED TO ALLEVIATE THIS IN ANY WAY OPEN TO US.

2. UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU SUGGEST IN THE OPENING PARAGRAPH OF TUR,

THERE IS LITTLE PRESENT PROSPECT OF OUR OBTAINING SATISFACTORY

ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE. YOU WILL NOW HAVE SEEN THE RECORD

OF MY EXCHANGES WITH NGUYEN CO THACH ON THE SUBJECT OF THE TREATMENT

OF RETURNING BOAT PEOPLE (PARAGRAPH 5 OF MY TELELETTER TO BURNS OF

2 FEBRUARY, NOW REPEATED TO UKMIS GENEVA AND UKMIS NEW YORK)

CO THACH WAS ADAMANT THAT RETURNEES SHOULD BE PUNISHED''. THIS

ECHOES VO DONG GIANG'S ATTITUDE WHEN SPEAKING TO MY PREDECESSOR

EARLY LAST YEAR.

1

•

3. THESE VIEWS ARE UNLIKELY TO CHANGE IN THE FORESEABLE FUTURE

AND THERE SEEMS LITTLE HOPE, IN THE LIGHT OF CO THACH'S COMMENTS,

OF OUR NEGOTIATING ANY ACCEPTABLE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESH.

THE BEST WE MIGHT HOPE FOR IS THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT, AND REFRAIN

FROM PUNISHING, REPATRIATES WHO COULD SHOW THAT THEY HAD LEFT

VIETNAM INVOLUNTARILY. GIVEN THE CORRUPTIBILITY OF THE LOWER REACHES

OF THE BURACRACY, OCCASIONAL INDIVIDUALS MIGHT ALSO MANAGE TO

EVADE PUNISHMENT BY RESORTING TO BRIBERY. BUT BOTH THESE HYPOTHESES

WOULD APPLY ONLY TO A MINORITY.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.

35)