TNAG-1797-FCO40-2557-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 247

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On repatriation, the Vietnamese side said that they would be prepared to accept only voluntary returnees. They had no intention of forcing Vietnamese illegal immigrants to return.

Both sides agreed:

i) The causes of illegal departures from Vietnam were complex

and deep rooted:

ii) Vietnam would try to stem the outflow and that Hong Kong would assist with information on places of departures and routes

taken:

iii) Repatriation was an effective means of deterring illegal

departures:

iv) Repatriation should be started as soon as an acceptable arrangement was agreed and that it should be in phases:

v) Some kind of limited financial assistance to help resettleme of returnees might be necessary although no commitment was given

on this:

vi) The British/Hong Kong Governments would provide lists of Vietnamese illegal immigrants who were to be repatriated for checking by the Vietnamese authorities:

vii) People who were repatriated would be treated humanely and would not be subject to reprisals or persecution: and

viii)

Repatriation by air or by sea would be acceptable.

The points on which agreement has yet to be reached are:

i)

Voluntary or involuntary repatriation:

ii) The involvement of Vietnamese officials in the repatriation

arrangements in Hong Kong:

The Vietnamese request for financial assistance towards

iii)

repatriation.

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