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IMMEDIATELY FOR RECEPTION OF RETURNEES. 99 CASES IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN EXAMINED AND ACCEPTED SO FAR. HE TOOK NOTE THAT BRITISH ASSISTANCE FOR REPATRIATION/REINTEGRATION WOULD BE CHANNELLED VIA UNHCR. HE HOPED THAT UK WOULD IMMEDIATELY DISCUSS QUESTION OF FUNDING FOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME WITH UNHCR AND CONTRIBUTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE LABOUR MINISTRY IN HANOI WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE EMBASSY AND UNHCR THE EXACT FORM OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. HE WELCOMED OUR AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO A VISIT TO HONG KONG BY VIETNAMESE TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO SETTLE FINAL DOCUMENTATION AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
IN
5. REFERRING TO 'COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS'' AGREED IN LONDON AUGUST, VU KHOAN SAID THIS WAS A COMPLEX MATTER. HE AGREED THAT WE SHOULD START WITH VOLUNTARY RETURNEES, WITHOUT REOPENING ISSUES WHICH COULD CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DELAY AND LEGAL PROBLEMS. SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF FIRST GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE TO OTHERS. PHASED RETURNS WOULD ALSO ACT AS A DETERRENT TO CLANDESTINE
DEPARTURES.
6. IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR CONTINUING EFFECTIVE ACTION TO BRING OUTFLOW TO AN END, VU KHOAN CONFIRMED THAT MEASURES CONTINUED IN FORCE. ADDITIONALLY, VIETNAM WAS UNDERTAKING A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN INCLUDING PREPARATION OF A FILM ON DANGERS OF CLANDESTINE DEPARTURE WHICH, HE HOPED, WOULD BE READY BEFORE THE NORMAL PEAK SEASON.
7. VU KHOAN CONFIRMED THAT VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, AND CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL DISCUSSIONS ON VBP PROBLEM. HE WELCOMED PROGRESS MADE
SO FAR. THERE WAS A CLEAR MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING.
COMMENT
8. THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL MEETING, EMPHASISING OUR CONTINUING CONCERN FOR EARLY PROGRESS, A VIEW WHICH VỤ KHOAN ENDORESED ENTIRELY. COMPLETION OF UK/VIETNAM MOU, FOLLOWING SIGNATURE OF MOU WITH UNHCR, TOGETHER WITH EARLY FUNDING OF UNHCR'S
REPATRIATION/REINTEGRATION PROGRAMME, ARE ESSENTIAL TRIGGERS TO RETURN OF FIRST GROUP.
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