CONFIDENTIAL
170606
MDHIAN 0558
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE WOULD BE CONTINGENT ON EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD ACTED TO STOP THE FLOW. MINISTERS MIGHT BE ASKED TO APPROVE
THIS AS A FIRST LIMITED STEP.
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE
6.
WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE POLITICAL DELICACY OF ANY FORM OF ASSISTANCE. THIS WILL OF COURSE ALSO BE A PROBLEM IN HK. THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF REINTEGRATION
ASSISTANCE WITH COMMENTS BOTH FOR AND AGAINST FROM LEGCO MEMBERS. WE CAN EXPECT SOME RESISTANCE TO QUOTE BLACKMAIL UNQUOTE BY VIETNAM. FOR THE PRESENT WE SHALL MAKE CLEAR THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
ON ANY FORM OF ASSISTANCE. BUT IN PREPARING THE OUTLINE OF A POSSIBLE PACKAGE, OUR INTEREST AS WELL AS YOURS WILL REQUIRE THIS TO BE VERY TIGHTLY DRAWN.
7. WE NEED TO DEVISE A PROPOSITION WHICH ON THE ONE HAND OFFERS A REALISTIC BAIT TO THE VIETNAMESE BUT ON THE OTHER DIRECTLY LINKS ASSISTANCE TO RETURNEES AND HAS NO CONNECTION WITH GENERAL
DEVELOPMENTAL AID. WE TAKE YOUR POINT THAT WE ARE NOT OFFERING THE VIETNAMESE AS MUCH AS THEY MIGHT WISH. NEVERTHELESS A PACKAGE WHICH INVOLVED ASSISTANCE GEARED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RETURNING
SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERABLE ATTRACTION FOR THEM IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE TERMS, EVEN IF PARTLY PROVIDED IN KIND. WE ENVISAGE AN ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH THE UNHCR WOULD DRAW ON A FUND OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING BOAT PEOPLE OR THEIR
NEIGHBOURHOODS.
8
BE BELIEVE THAT THE FLOW OF ANY REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE SHOULD
BE CONTROLLED NOT ONLY ACCORDING TO WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE ALLOW SATISFACTORY NUMBERS TO RETURN BUT ALSO TAKING ACCOUNT OF DIMINISHED OUTFLOW.
9.
THE ROLE OF THE UNHCR WILL OBVIOUSLY BE CRITICAL AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO WATCH CAREFULLY ANY TENDENCY FOR UNHCR TO ARGUE THAT A UK/HK AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM SHOULD AWAIT THE FORMATION OF A MULTILATERAL ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING E.G. THE THAIS. THAT WOULD DELAY MATTERS UNACCEPTABLY. THIS IS RELEVANT TO THE UNHCR'S TIMETABLE FOR PROGRESS (SEE COMMENTS IN SECOND IFT.).
10. EXCO ON 16 AUGUST REMAINED READY TO CONTEMPLATE SOME FORM OF LIMITED REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNHCR. THERE WAS GENERAL ACCEPTANCE THAT THE UK/HKG WOULD HAVE TO PRIME THE PUMP ALTHOUGH SOME MEMBERS MADE THE POINT THAT EVENTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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CONFIDENTIAL
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