TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 219

CONFIDENTIAL

4. ALTHOUGH FCO ENVISAGE THAT WE SHOULD SEEK APPROPRIATE GUARANTEES ON THE FUTURE TREATMENT OF RETURNING REFUGEES, I DOUBT THE VIETNAMESE WILL DO MORE THAN SAY THAT AS WE APPEAR NOT TO WANT THEM (AND INDEED ARE PREPARED TO FORCE THEM TO RETURN), GUARANTEES

ARE HARDLY OUR CONCERN. WHATEVER THEY SAY, EVEN IF THAT INCLUDES

BLAND PROMISES OF SOME GUARANTEES, I DO NOT SEE HOW WE CAN

ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE ACTUAL TREATMENT OF ANY REFUGEES WHO RETURN.

IF IT LATER EMERGED THAT SUCH REFUGEES WERE BADLY TREATED, IT SEEMS

TO ME THAT HMG COULD INCUR ODIUM TWICE OVER: FOR FORCIBLY

REPATRIATING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND, LATER, FOR ACCEPTING

VIETNAMESE GUARANTEE WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WOULD BE WORTHLESS.

5. FCO PLEASE PASS TO ALL ADDRESSEES AND COPY TO SEAD, FCO.

ENDS

YOUDE

MINIMAL HKD

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

COPIES TO:- HKGO LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL