TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 103

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MDHIAN 9849

VIETNAMESE TEAM TO HONG KONG BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT SUCH A WELL PUBLICISED VISIT WOULD HAVE ON THE CAMPS. SINCE THE VIETNAMESE WOULD EXPECT THE NEXT ROUND TO BE ELSEWHERE THAN IN HANOI WE WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES, E.G. BANGKOK OR POSSIBLY LONDON.

4. AS WE SEE IT, OUR MAIN OBJECTIVES FOR THE SECOND ROUND WILL BE:

(I) TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON VIETNAMES EFFORTS TO STEM THE OUTFLOW:

(II) TO GET VIETNAMESE TO DROP THEIR INSISTENCE ON VOLUNTARY RETURN SO THAT THE SCOPE OF THOSE TO BE RETURNED WOULD BE AS WIDE AS

POSSIBLE:

(III) TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A REPATRIATION PACKAGE SATISFACTORY TO US.

ON (I) WE HAVE A GENERAL UNDERTAKING FROM THE VIETNAMESE ON THEIR BEST ENDEAVOURS TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS LEAVING. WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE SOME FIRM EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS ON THIS BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE CLEAR TO THE VIETNAMES THAT THEIR CONTINUED VIGILANCE WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ANY AGREEMENT.

5. ON (II) WE THINK THAT THE VIETNAMESE MAY BE PREPARED TO SHIFT THEIR GROUND BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE PROGRESS WE SHALL NEED TO ESTABLISH OUR BOTTOM LINE ON THEIR REQUEST FOR QUOTE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE UNQUOTE. THERE COULD OF COURSE BE NO QUESTION OF THIS WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON THE RETURN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD PUT A PROPOSAL TO MINISTERS FOR CONTINGENT AUTHORITY

IN PRINCIPLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE VIA UNHCR GRANTED THE IMPORTANCE TO THE UK AND HONG KONG OF A VIABLE REPATRIATION SCHEME. IT WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY TO STRESS THE POINT THAT ANY ASSISTANCE COULD ONLY BE CONTEMPLATED TO FACILITATE REINTEGRATION RATHER THAN GENERAL DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE OPEN ENDED. IT WILL CLEARLY BE NECESSARY TO DEFINE THE LIMITS OF ANY UK/HKG FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. MINISTERS SHOULD OF COURSE BE AWARE THAT WE OURSELVES HAVE YET TO OBTAIN EXCO AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AGREEMENT TO SUCH AN ARRANGMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT PROVIDED WE OBTAINED A TIGHLY DRAWN SCHEME FOR RETURN OF THOSE SCREENED OUT, THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

6. WE ENVISAGE A MAJOR ROLE FOR THE UNHCR IN THE REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. WE SEE THEM AS THE CHANNEL FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF ANY REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF GUARANTEES ON THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF RETURNEES WILL ALSO BE ESSENTIAL FOR INTERNATION- AL AND PARLIAMENTARY ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PACKAGE. IN DISCUSSIONS

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