TNAG-1424-FCO40-1907-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 146

CONFIDENTIAL

countries increasingly taking view that such people cannot qualify

for resettlement.

6.

شهد

1.

Recognise that such people have to be treated as refugees if

country of origin refuses to have them back, ΟΙ there are good

reasons to think that they will be treated inhumanely.

we need to establish whether or not this

convince resettlement countries of it.

is

But believe

the case, if only to

7.

The question then arises of involuntary repatriation.

prospect of getting

No

realistic

enough volunteers for voluntary

repatriation to help at all. Therefore considering asking our

Ambassador in Hanoi to approach Vietnamese authorities to ask

whether they would:

(a) cooperate should we have to repatriate people, and

(b)

be prepared to give assurances that persons concerned would not

be ill-treated.

8.

No decisions taken yet on these

opportunity to discuss with you first.

issues, and wished to have

Realistically doubt whether

we will get acceptable assurances from Vietname se in short term.

But if dialogue opened may bear fruit eventually.

Naturally no

question of our actually adopting

adopting policy of repatriation without

full prior discussion with UNHCR. We would not wish to take action

to which UNHCR opposed.

9. (Defensive, if Hartling is opposed to approach to Vietnamese). Appreciate why you might find it difficult to back such an approach.

Will consider matter further and let you know what conclusion we

reach. Can you

think of any other solution to the

the serious problem

that Hong Kong will continue to face?

Closed Camps (defensive)

10. Understand reasons for

your criticisms.

We and

But

see no

the Hong Kong

alternative in

Government also find policy distasteful.

present circumstances.

CONFIDENTIAL