TNAG-1535-FCO40-2099-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 15

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76828

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INTERESTED PARTIES WHO HAVE VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN SEARCH FOR A

VIABLE SOLUTION TO THIS TRAGIC PROBLEM.

INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

VERY SIGNIFICANT MORAL AND POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO SUCH A

COURSE. HMG WOULD NEED TO BE REASSURED BY VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES

THAT ANY RETURNING VIETNAMESE WOULD BE TREATED HUMANELY. AT PRESENT, HMG DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SATISFACTORY

ASSURANCES COULD BE OBTAINED. MUST CONTINUE TO REGARD

RESETTLEMENT AS THE ONLY IMMEDIATE WAY TO ALLEVIATE HONG KONG'S

REFUGEE PROBLEM: BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ALL OTHER FEASIBLE

SOLUTIONS.

VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

ONLY SOME 22 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG HAVE

APPLIED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. ABOUT 14 REFUGEES HAVE SO FAR

RETURNED: OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY

VIETNAMESE. THEREFORE DOES NOT SEEM A REALISTIC OPTION AT PRESENT.

ENDS

HOWE

OCMIAN 6828

BOAT PEOPLE

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

WED

UND

FED

NEWS D

MAED

PS

PS/MR RENTON PS/MR EGGAR MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR WILSON

MR BRAITHWAITE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

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