TNAG-1423-FCO40-1906-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 43

CONTACTS WITH VIETNAM ITSELF

WE HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM

OVER THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME WHICH WE PLAYED A MAJOR

ROLE IN SETTING UP N 1979. THE VIETNAMESE DO NOT APPEAR TO BE

READY TO CONTEMPLATE REPATRIATION. WE THINK IT IS BETTER

THEREFORE TO CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVING THE ORDERLY Departure

PROGRAMME. AT A MEETING HELD IN GENEVA ON 3 OCTOBER LAST YEAR

WITH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, THE UK REPRESENTATIVE,

MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS

1)

II)

III)

IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT VIETNAMESE NATIONALS

STILL FEEL DRIVEN TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY;

THE INCREASING MEASURE OA CO-OPERATION FROM

THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES IS WELCOME;

GIVEN THAT THE ODP WAS INSTITUTED FOR

HUMANITARIAN REASONS, ESPECIALLY TO

FACILITATE FAMILY REUNIONS IT I

INCONSISTENT THAT THE PROGRAMME DOES NOT

ALLOW THE DEPARTURE OF THOSE WHOSE RELATIVES

LEFT BY BOAT;

IV)

THE PROGRAMME SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE

THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY, OR WHO HAVE BEEN

IN RE-EDUCATION CAMPS.

"