I'
Punted in LAKE
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
as well as
programme would have to embrace involuntary returnees voluntary ones: and that for this to be acceptable to international public opinion the question of assurances and monitoring would have to be properly addressed.
8 =
We would expect the Vietnamese to try to focus discussion on the need for various forms of aid to facilitate the repatriation process. It is essential that we prevent aid from becoming a central part of the discussions. If we did, we would lose the tactical advantage: we might raise Vietnam's expectations to unrealistic levels: and we would run the risk of establishing a link between large scale aid and repatriation, which might
effectively block progress on
on the latter until the point when the international political climate permitted substantive movement
the former.
on
therefore need to be armed with a careful and the wider regional issues involved.
RESTATE
If
9. The UK side will
defensive line on aid
AIO asked we would have to pendente our position on bilateral and to Vietnam, which is well known to the Vietnamese: any change in our fundamental attitude towards aid to Vietnam would depend on progress towards ending Vietnam's illegal occupation of Cambodia. But we would note that UNHCR have already begun EXPLORIN
the?
the
LAS
the
not
Enteping with Vietnamese, with the endorsement of HMG and other Governments, the idea of limited aid through UNHCR channels
RE-INTEGRATION directly aimed at the re-interpretation of returning boat people into their communities. We would suggest that this is avenue which the Vietnamese could best pursue: and we would exclude some participation by HMG (and possibly by the EC). 10. We think it would be premature to take our own thinking
UNTIL
Util after our further on this point (para 6 of your tur)x first exchange with the Vietnamese. We need a much firmer basis on which to consult Ministers. But we note with appreciation
to contribute to your assessment that Hong Kong would be prepared
multilateral scheme.
some
YB 7
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