TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

PRIORITY

this stage. They will clutch at any straw which lets them off

the hook. On this issue, the Kuala Lumpur meeting effectively

saw the remarkable line-up of the rest versus Vietnam and USA

with some support from the Commission. The fact is, of course,

that we do not need to address the voluntary/involuntary

distinction at this stage because we agreed with the Vietnamese

to make a start with the phased return of volunteers.

2. As reported in para 7 of Kuala Lumpur TUR, the Commission

said (as they did at an earlier meeting in this series in

Bangkok) that they would contribute to repatriation assistance,

but for volunteers only. The Commission have now insisted on

making this unwelcome distinction on a number of occasions.

Cheysson made it during his recent visit to Vietnam. This

willful persistence bears the hallmark of a personal Cheysson

policy. It may be made with humanitarian intentions or, more

Likely with an eye to the

exp triate Vietnamese lobby in France.

Either way, it is misguided and unnecessary.

3. If, as we assume, the policy is Cheysson's, there seems

little point in expending powder and shot in trying to change it

before he goes in January. But we should Like to prepare the

future Commission

inc ti оп

in

a way that is

ground and try to ensure that any

pronouncements gloss over the dis

helpful. We should therefore be grateful if you could approach

4WG оп 13 January. We are

We

could

DGI soon.

OLLOW up at the

faxing a test of points hich could

W

serve

as

an

aide-memoire.

HOWE

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VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG LTD