TNAG-1802-FCO40-2562-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 151

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HANOI

CONFIDENTIAL

нко 243/12

TELNO 295

OF 081245Z DECEMBER 88

л

い

(134

TOP COPY

Q DIST ?

050742 MDLOAN 2953

159

YOUR TELNO 454 ODP

1.

WE HAD ASSUMED FROM YOUR TELNO 401 THAT YOU WOULD TAKE QUOTE THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY UNQUOTE TO APPROACH BOTH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AND THE UNHCR TO ASK FOR A MORE EVEN AND PREDICTABLE FLOW FOR PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE REASONS. THE CONSIDERATIONS OUTLINED IN OUR TELNO 258 REMAIN VALID, AND WE STILL CANNOT EXCLUDE THE NEED TO TAKE URGENT MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN ON OUR RECEPTION FACILITIES HERE, SHOULD THERE BE A SUDDEN SURGE OF ODP ARRIVALS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

2. WE THEREFORE CONTINUE TO SEE A PRESSING NEED TO TACKLE THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. WE SHARE YOUR DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT THE VIETNAMESE TO NOT ADOPT AN UNHELPFUL ATTITUDE OVER THE RETURN OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG. HOWEVER WE DO NOT THINK THAT RAISING ODP WITH THEM IN THESE TERMS NEED HAVE THAT EFFECT, PROVIDED IT WAS DONE IN THE WAY SUGGESTED IN OUR TELNO 258. IN ANY CASE, THE MOST RECENT INDICATIONS ARE ENCOURAGING AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE FIRST BATCH OF VOLUNTEERS CAN BE RETURNED BY THE

END OF THE YEAR.

3. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOW PROCEED AS

YOU INTENDED IN YOUR TELNO 401. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU DO SO AS SOON AS THE VIETNAM/UNHCR MOU AND UK

VIETNAM BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN SIGNED. IN THE MEANTIME IT MIGHT HELP IF YOU COULD ONCE AGAIN TO EXPLAIN

OUR PRACTICAL ANXIETIES TO THE UNHCR IN CASE THEY HAVE ANY

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE.

HOWE

YYYY

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL