TNAG-1540-FCO40-2104-Further-resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-i-1986 — Page 215

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FM HANOI

TO DESK BY 07120OZ FCO

TELNO 178

CF 070530Z JULY 36

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMAS GENEVA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR

HKK 243/9

(M

3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

YOUR TELNO 1346 TO HONG KONG : WIETNAMESE REFUGEES

-7 JUL 1986

LANCEM

1. YOU WILL RECALL THAT REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES WAS RALSTED BY E C HEADS OF MISSION HERE (MY TELELETTER TO NASH OF 25 JUNE REFERS) WITH FOREIGN MINISTER, NGUYEN CO THACK ON 23 JUNE. THACH MADE 4T CLEAR THEN THAT REPATR HATHON WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT PRESENT.

2.

PESTRY

Action Taken

CPM

7786

RECENTLY DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION WITH UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE (BAZOCHE) HERE. HE IS HIMSELF WORKING ON A PAPER, FOR THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, ON THE FUTURE OF CDP AND HE WILL BE COVERING THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION. AS BAZOCHE SEES IT THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR UNHCR WITH (INVOLUNTARY AND VOLUNTARY) REPATRIATION IS THEIR #NABILITY TO MONITOR WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO RETURNING REFUGEES WHATEVER 'ASSURANCES** MAY OR MAY NOT BE GIVEN BY THE WIETNAMESE.

3. IN ORDER TO GIVE ANY VALID ASSUARANCES THE VIETNAMESE WOULD PRESUMABLY HAVE TO AMEND THEIR NEW PENAL CODE UNDER WHICH IT AG AN OFFENCE TO LEAVE VIETNAM WITHOUT PERMISSION. AS THACH SAND TO THE EC REPS VIETNAM CANNOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO LEAVE ILLEGALLY AND COME BACK (IMPLIED, WITHOUT REPRISAL) WHEN THEY FOUND THE ECONOMIC GRASS WAS NOT NECESSARILY GREENER SOMEWHERE ELSE.

4. 1. ENTIRELY AGREE THAT FOR THE SHORT AND MEDIUM TERM, REPATRAT ON IS NOT FEASBILE. NEVERTHELESS M. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM SEEN FROM HONG KONG, AND AGREE THAT THE MAJORITY OF

LLEGAL DEPARTURES FROM VIETNAM ARE NOW PROMPTED BY ECONOMIC RATHER THAN POLITICAL REASONS. A WAY HAS TO BE FOUND TO

PERSUADE THE WETNAMESE THEMSELVES TO DO MORE TO PREVENT

LLEGAL DEPARTURES. RAISING REPATRIATION WITH THEM MIGHT DO THIS

IN THE MEDIUM TERM, EVEN IF THE ACTUAL OBJECTIVE OF VIETNAMESE ACCEPTANCE OF REPATRIATION WERE NOT ACHIEVED. THIS, POWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY HMG ALONE. FROM RECENT STATEMENTS BY THE AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION MINISTER ITS CLEAR

THE AUSTRALIAMS AKE RETHINKING ODP. THE CANADIANS MAY BE DOING

SO TOO. UMPOR SUPPORT NEEDS TO BE ENLISTED AND, IT SHOULD

DEALLY BE THEY WHO BECOME THE FRONT RUNNERS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE

VIETNAMESE.

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