TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 78

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C) THE CHANCES OF THE VIETNAMESE GIVING US ANY RELIABLE

ASSURANCES OF THE WAY RETURNING BOAT PEOPLE WOULD BE TREATED.

WE WOULD EXPECT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG TO BE

RELUCTANT TO RETURN HOME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD EVEN IF THEIR

RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS HAVE DWINDLED TO NOTHING. IF WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO RETURN WITHOUT REALLY SATISFACTORY ASSURAN-

CES WE RISK SEVERE CRITICISM HERE OF EXERTING UNDUE AND UN- FAIR PRESSURE ON THEM (THIS IS A DANGER IN ANY CASE).

D) THE CHANCES OF UNHCR BEING ABLE TO ESTABLISH A SATISFACTORY

ARRANGEMENT FOR MONITORING RETURNEES. IN LAOS FOR EXAMPLE

OFFICIALS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR VILLAGES FOR AT LEAST A YEAR

AFTER RETURN AND CAN CHECK EG ON RETURN OF FORMER LAND

HOLDINGS.

E) THE RISK THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL SEEK TO EXPLOIT ANY APPROACH WE MAKE IF IT REFLECTS (AS IT MUST) AN ANXIETY TO SECURE THEIR HELP IN ALLEVIATINO HONG KONG'S REFUGEE BURDEN: AND WAYS IN WHICH THEY MIGHT DO SO, EG SOME FORM OF QUID PRO QUO ON OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR CANDIDATES FOR ORDERLY

DEPARTURE.

PYM

1

BOAT PEOPLE

PS

LIMITED

SEAD

PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS

HK & GD

UND

FED

PUSD

NEWS D MAED

MR WRIGHT.

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR ADAMS MR URE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

BOAT PEOPLE

COPIES TO:

MR SIDDLE LEGAL ADVISER MISS WILMSHURST

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