TNAG-1534-FCO40-2098-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 81

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CONFIDENTIAL

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(b) to increase the rate of departures by:

(i) voluntary repatriation to Vietnam;

(ii) absorption in Hong Kong;

(iii) integration in the region;

(iv) increased resettlement.

resettlement

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Mr Galsworthy

The submission concluded that only two of these options involuntary repatriation and increased

offered any real prospect of success.

therefore recommended that we explore with the Vietnamese

the possibilities of repatriation, and also seek Home

Office agreement to a continuing UK offtake of refugees

from Hong Kong.

Repatriation

repatriation.

*

15. The Secretary of State concluded that we should not

pursue bilateral discussions with the Vietnamese on

He felt that Parliamentary and public opinion would not accept that we should discuss involuntary

repatriation with the Vietnamese, given our condemnation of their policies.

16. Our stance vis-a-vis Vietnam has not changed in the

last year.

We see no early prospect of it doing 80

subsequently in the future. Nor have we any greater expectation of securing reasonable assurances in bilateral

exchanges with the Vietnamese that

any refugees

involuntarily repatriated would be treated humanely. In response to general enquiries by HMA Hanoi the Vietnamese

have told us only that "illegal" emigrants may be imprisoned for up to 2 years: in the course of their escape they may also have committed other criminal offences (for example stealing a vessel or bribing officialdom). What we know of prison conditions is not reassuring.

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