TNAG-1392-FCO40-1864-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 230

CONFIDENTIAL

3

15.

(3)

(4)

balance

In

Hanoi to

Government.

There would certainly be a parliamentary and public outcry if the approach became known publicly. The SCORRI report

states that compulsory repatriation "could never be

countenanced for refugees and is inconceivable even for

obvious economic migrants in present circumstances".

It might undermine Our stand against human rights abuses

in Vietnam and the approaches we

we make on behalf of Orderly

Departure Programme candidates.

spite of the evident difficulties, we consider that the

of argument lies i- favour of our instructing HM Ambassador

broach the subject of repatriation with the Vietnamese

We should need to try to clear our lines with UNHCR

first, although it is plain from what the UN High Commissioner said

to Mr Luce on 12 March that UNHCR are against involuntary

repatriation as a matter of principle. The nature of the approach would need to be considered carefully both in order to encourage the prospect of constructive dialogue with the Vietnamese and to reduce

on (voluntary) repatriation.

We

the strength of the outcry in this country should it become public.

Our aim should be to present the problem as one imposed on the West

by the Vietnamese themselves. We should refer to Our previous

discussions with the Vietnamese

should point out that while in the past Hong Kong has been able to

cope with the problems caused by the outflow from Vietnam, the

situation has now become unmanageable, and we are therefore having

to contemplate returning

returning boat people to Vietnam on arrival in Hong

Kong, just as we return illegal immigrants from China. We would ask

whether the Vietnamese would be prepared to

those returned, and

afforded them after

return.

cooperate by accepting

to provide any assurances as to the treatment

We would not specify that this

repatriation would be on an involuntary basis (thought that would be

the clear implication). This would make it less easy for the

embarrass us publicly about the approach, which could

be represented as a continuation of previous contacts that we and

the UNHCR have had on repatriation. If questioned publicly we

should say that there will be no question of repatriation unless

credible and

Vietnamese to

satisfactory

assurances

are received as

to the

ए

CONFIDENTIAL