TNAG-1798-FCO40-2558-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 116

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Mr McLaren

r

PS/Lord Glenarthur

PA

930

CONFIDENTIAL

rse W21.

rand W 38/11

ட

M

FROM:

A Godson

South East Asian Department

DATE:

24 November 1988

CC:

Mr Hum, HKD

Mr Williams, UND

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG

Problem

1. The Vietnamese Government is making heavy weather of arrangements to repatriate the first group of boat people from Hong Kong. Some boat people in Hong Kong who had volunteered to return to Vietnam have withdrawn their applications. There is a danger

that this trend will continue if a repatriation programme is not put

in place soon.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that we instruct our Embassy in Hanoi to urge the

Vietnamese to conclude quickly their negotiations with UNHCR on

practical arrangements for the return of boat people so that

repatriation can begin as soon as possible. UKMIS Geneva should be

instructed to take parallel action with UNHCR to see what more might be done to speed things up. I submit a draft telegram accordingly.

Hong Kong Department concur.

Background and Argument

3. During the second round of talks between HMG/HKG and the Vietnamese Government, in London in October, the two sides agreed

that an early start should be made on the phased repatriation of those boat people in Hong Kong who have asked to go back to Vietnam.

It was also agreed that we should aim for the first group to return

before the end of this year. Following the talks, the Vietnamese