TNAG-1534-FCO40-2098-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 72

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: CALLS FOR INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

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1. Thank you for consulting me (in your minute of 8 July not to copy addressees) on the proposal in Mr Nash's minute to you of 19 June. I have discussed the matter further with Mr Nash, who explained that SEAD are in no doubt that involuntary repatriation will remain unacceptable but nevertheless would find it useful to have a short paper, which they could attach to their own submissions concerning future proposals for the involuntary repatriation of Vietnamese refugees. SEAD expect such proposals to come up pretty regularly. The paper they envisage would refer to examples of earlier proposals for involuntary repatriation and actual instances of such repatriation, and whether these were considered politically acceptable. It would also analyse the practice of repatriating Chinese "economic migrants" from Hong Kong, and would bring out the differences, including different issues of principle raised, concerning Indochinese refugees (or "economic migrants") and Chinese illegal immigrants into Hong Kong. SEAD expect that such a paper would be useful in suggesting factual points and arguments in support of their own advice on policy. They stress that it should err on the side of brevity and should be tightly argued.

2.

I would envisage a paper on the following lines:

a) brief introduction describing the problems posed to various countries by Vietnamese and other Indochinese refugees, and noting that various proposals have been made for the involuntary repatriation of such refugees (in some cases involving the classification of some of them as "economic migrants"). The introduction might also refer to the role of the UNHCR, and note some past cases of involuntary repatriation, (eg Anti-Soviet Russians and Ukrainians after the War), perhaps also observing that repatriation should of course not be confused with cases of persons being refused entry into a country in order to take up residence there (eg East African Asians seeking to come into the UK).

b) a summary of proposals made for involuntary repatriation of Indochinese refugees and the argumentation used.

c) mention of the new UNHCR/Thai Government programme for screening Laotian arrivals in Thailand, which may result in involuntary repatriation but where difficulties are being experienced.

d) examples of other proposals and cases of involuntary repatriation and whether they have been regarded as acceptable (and why)

e) the problem in Hong Kong and the practice of the Hong Kong Government. As I understand, illegal immigrants are

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