TNAG-1794-FCO40-2554-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE

Vietnamese)

(c) to impress upon the the need for action by them to stop the out-flow and to secure if possible their agreement

principt to specific measures to discourage illegal departures;

(d) to emphasise that for those Vietnamese economic migrants now detained in Hong Kong after screening, the only future lies in Vietnam.The international community will be looking to Vietnam to make arrangements to take back its own citizens;

(e) as far as possible to keep the discussion within this framework and to focus on practicalities;

(f) while not excluding the possibility of some form of aide Channelled through UNHCR, to assist the reintegration of those who

are repatriated to Vietnam, to keep discussion of aid on the

>

sidelines at this stage; and to avoid discussing amounts.

•

of

3. The objectives of the Vietnamese in these talks are likely in some respects to be the mirror image of our

own. We would not exclude the possibility that this initiative forms part of a reappraisal by Vietnam of its policy towards the region as a whole, and in particular the ASEAN countries. It is just possible that the Vietnamese may see the achievement of a solution to the problem as a necessary step in the process Vietnam's international rehabilitation.

However, we are much

more inclined to see the move as a short-term tactical one. We

suspect that they are likely to use the talks as a means of focussing international attention on Vietnam's economic predicament and on the need for large-scale economic assistance. They will no doubt want to portray their declared readiness to

discuss the problem as a sign of flexibility, with a view to improving Vietnam's international image. (BY the same token, they will want to shift responsbility for difficulties in the talks onto our side. They may believe that they can use the boat people issue as a lever with which to exert pressure on us to make concessions on aid, in advance of a satisfactory settlement

no alternative