TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 350

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HE SAID THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES, WHICH HE COMPARED TO THOSE OTHER GOVERNMENTS FACE IN TRYING TO STOP THE DRUG TRADE.

COMMENT (UNDERLINED)

3. FROM THESE DISCUSSIONS, IT APPEARS THAT VIETNAM IS READY FOR SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS ON MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS CURRENTLY CREATED BY THE ILLICIT OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM.

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ITG APPARENT READINESS TO MOVE FROMTHE 'CASE-BY-CASE' APPROACH TO REPATRIATION AND CONSIDER A SCHEME FOR THE RETURN OF SOME GROUPS OF VIETNAMESE, IF LINKED TO A FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM, SEEM WORTH PURSUING.

THE QUESTION OF VIETNAMESE UNDERTAKINGS ON THE TREATMENT OF RETURNKEES WILL CLEARLY BE COMPLEX, BUT A STATEMENT OF NON- DISCRIMINATION WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION TAKEN BY THACH ON THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS.

4.

OTHER LINES WHICH COULD BE PURSUED WITH VIETNAM WOULD INCLUDE POSSIBLE COOPERATION ON MEASURES 10 PREVENT THE CLANDESTINE OUTFLOW.

DIRECT ASSISTANCE WITH POLICE/MILITARY OPERATIONS WOULD PRESUMABLY BE UNPALATEABLE, TO SAY THE LEAST.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE NO VERY PRESSING VIETNAMESE INTERES15 10 BE SERVED BY ACTING MORE VIGOROUSLY AGAINST THE OUTFLOW.

VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS HAVE NOMMENTED TO US IN THE PAST ON THE RISK OF WESTERN CRITICISM OF SUCH ACTION.

PROGRAMS OF AGRICULTURAL/WELFARE SUPPORT IN AREAS PARTICULARLY PRONE TO THE DEPARTURE MENTALITY MIGHT BE MORE CONVEIVABLE.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS: THE FOCUS WOULD BE ON HO CHI MINH CITY AND OTHER RELATIVELY AFFLUENT SOUTHERN ARLAS, AND IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT THE ECONOMIC MIGRANTS ARE THEMSELVES BETTER OFF THAN OTHERS AND ARE USING THEIR RESOURCES TO OBTAIN BETTER OPPORTUNITIES ELSEWHERE.

NONETHELESS A PROPOSAL ALONG THESE LINES COULD BE A STARTING POINT FOR DISCUSSION OF ECONOMIC DISINCENTIVES.

5. AS RECENT MEDIA ATTENTION HAS MADE CLLAR, SCREENING AND REPATRIATION CAN ATTRACT NEGATIVE ATTENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS GROUNDS.

PROGRAMS TO ASSIST THE WELFARE OF RETURNLES MAY HELP TO COUNTERACT

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