CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TOP
TELNO 4387
HOT
OF 29090OZ NOVEMBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
(928
(63) 2+3/1
929
013504 MDHIAN 3497
YOUR TELNOS 3057 AND 3067 AND HANOI TELNO 440: REPATRIATION
ARRANGEMENTS.
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE ACTION INITIATED IN FIRST TWO TURS. ON THE THIRD TUR WE HAVE A SPECIFIC SUGGESTION ON HANDLING THE APPARENT HANG-UP OVER WORDING ON IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION.
2. OUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN DISCUSSING THE QUESTION OF HUMANE TREATMENT FOR RETURNEES SUGGESTS THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL BE VERY STICKY OVER ANY ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A PRECISE UNDERTAKING NOT TO PROSECUTE, GIVEN THEIR REITERATION OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR CRIMINAL CODE.
3. IT MAY BE THAT THE UNHCR WOULD DO BETTER TO CONCENTRATE ON A DECLARATION OF CO-OPERATION TO ENABLE UNHCR TO MONITOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF RETURNEES, INCLUDING THE AVOIDANCE OF PUNISHMENT FOR LEAVING VIETNAM. (THAT WOULD LEAVE THE LEGAL POSITION OPEN WHILE PROTECTING BOAT PEOPLE FROM ANYTHING WORSE THAN A WARNING, WHICH IS WHAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE SAID WILL BE THE WORST THAT WOULD HAPPEN).
4. IF THE QUESTION IS LEFT FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS THERE WILL BE EVEN LESS PROSPECT OF GETTING THE FIRST BATCH BACK BY THE END OF THE YEAR. IF YOU AGREE UKMIS GENEVA MIGHT SUGGEST A SOLUTION ON THE ABOVE LINES TO UNHCR.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
91
DISTRIBUTION
96
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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