CONFIDENTIAL
147023
MDHIAN 9849
YESTERDAY WITH THE UNHCR IN HONG KONG (KARIM, CHARGE DE MISSION) THEY SEEMED TO ENVISAGE A SIMILAR ROLE. KARIM ALSO THOUGHT THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO OPERATE SOME FORM OF POST RETURN MONITORING SYSTEM WHICH WOULD BE VITAL TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE PACKAGE. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INSTRUCT UKMIS GENEVA TO TAKE UP THESE POINTS WITH THE UNHCR PRIOR TO OUR FIXING A DATE FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE. IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO HAVE HOCKE'S CONCURRENCE ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS.
7. ON VIETNAMESE INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPATRIATION WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ARGUE FOR THEIR CARRYING OUT VERIFICATION
CHECKS IN VIETNAM ON THE BASIS OF LISTS TO BE PROVIDED BY US. THEY CAN BE EXPECTED TO PRESS FOR A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN SELECTING THOSE TO BE RETURNED. WE SHOULD STICK TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT ILLEGALS SHOULD GO BACK. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO DEVISE AN ARRANGEMENT IN WHICH THE VIETNAMESE HELPED TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OF BATCHES TO BE RETURNED AND THE RATE OF FLOW. THIS MIGHT HELP TO EASE THEM AWAY FROM INSISTENCE ON VOLUNTARY RETURN.
8. WE WOULD NOT RULE OUT A VISIT BY A VIETNAMESE OFFICIAL TO HONG KONG AT A LATER STAGE. INDEED, SUCH A VISIT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN CON- JUNCTION WITH THE UNHCR IN OFFERING TO PROSPECTIVE RETURNEES REASURANCES OF HUMANE TREATMENT. IF THIS IS MANAGED CAREFULLY WE THINK WE COULD ACCEPT SUCH AN INVOLVEMENT BUT WE WOULD BE AGAINST ANY EARLY FAMILIARISATION VISIT OR, AS WE HAVE SAID IN PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VIETNAMESE VERIFICATION UNIT IN HONG KONG,
9. WE ARE PLANNING TO REPORT TO EXCO ON 16 AUGUST AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AN INITIAL RESPONSE BEFORE THEM.
10. WE ARE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY WITH PROPOSAL FOR BRIEFING OTHER GOVERNMENTS ON THE TALKS.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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