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16.
It is for consideration whether
we should explore the Vietnamese position more fully, eg by means of a direct approach to the Vietnamese authorities by HMA Hanoi, as Hong Kong proposed in
November 1984. Two points need to be taken into account:
(a) The nature of our relations with Vietnam (SEAD to expand].
(b) Our preference that UNHCR should take the lead on this issue.
17. Mr Luce agreed in
that the Hong Kong Government should
not be authorised to implement any programme of involuntary repatriation without the full support and cooperation of UNHCR. A
repatriation policy which did not have UNHCR support would be bound
to attract harsh international criticism. Conflicting views of Hong
Kong's proposals have been expressed by UNHCR officials, but their
official position is that all repatriation of refugees should be voluntary. When Mr Raison saw Mr Moussalli, UNHCR Director of Iternationl
Protection (in March 1984, the latter said that UNHCR had opened
the question of repatriation with the Vietnamese authorities and
would pursue it. However they would need guarantees that returnees and their families would not be penalised in any way. He thought
that the Vietnamese would eventually change their law to grant
amnesty to those who had left and to give assurances that they would
receive normal supplies of rations, etc. He suggested that Hong
Kong should be patient and not introduce their proposals until
acceptable Vietnamese assurances were forthcoming.
18. If we wished now to approach the Hanoi government about Hong
Kong's proposals we should therefore reckon without UNHCR
assistance. We could try to open a dialogue within the framework of
our present contacts with the Vietnamese on matters relating to the
ODP (see para 2). These might be expanded to include not only
repatriation but also the question of what steps in addition to the
ODP the Vietnamese might be ready to take to reduce the numbers of
illegal departures. As there is clearly some cooperation (often
involving bribery) between Vietnamese authorities and boat people,
on a local if not a national level, we should not be surprised if our approaches led nowhere. But we might nevertheless try; and we
CONFIDENTIAL
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