TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 62

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1) The Question of Long Term Solutions to the Problem, Particularly

Contacts with Vietnam itself

In paras 12-14 of our memorandum we pointed to the continuing need

for durable solutions. We have discussed the subject frequently

with UNHCR, other resettlement countries, and the countries of the

region including Vietnam. UNHCR accept that resettlement in Western

countries is not the ideal solution, and that we should be looking

for other viable alternatives, such as repatriation or resettlement

in the area.

The complex nature of the problems involved might well suggest they

should be examined in a further international conference. We

should have no objection to joining such a conference. But for it

to have any chance of success it would need to cover all the possible durable solutions open: repatriation, local integration

and resettlement. It should also be attended by not only the major

resettlement countries (including China), and the first asylum

countries, but also the countries of Indo-China. Given the

political tensions in the region, particularly between China and

Vietnam, this would not be easy to achieve and indeed several recent

diplomatic initiatives of this sort have come to nothing.

Moreover we ourselves are not well placed to take an initiative of

our own. We can hardly make such a move without prompting the

question from other participants of what we ourselves propose to contribute. This would clearly be embarrassing given the criticism

our performance is already eliciting from other resettlement countries. We have however made clear our willingness to join in preliminary discussions with major resettlement countries and first asylum countries.

Repatriation

We agree with UNHCR that repatriation is the most desirable long term solution. We accept that repatriation could only be considered on a voluntary basi

In para 17a of our Memorandum we

pointed out that there have to date been very few volunteers from

the camps in Hong Kong. Clearly those who have taken the considerable risk to flee by boat will not easily be persuaded to

return to Vietnam. Given the Hanoi Government's lamentable human

/rights

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