all those who did not qualify for resettlement elsewhere would have to go back. The Vietnamese understood this. While they are still prepared to take back only volunteers at this stage, they accepted that this problem will have to be dealt with step by step.
4. It was clear that the Vietnamese would not accept any returns
without some form of reintegration assistance. Their ideas ideas. on reintegration assistance were on a modest scale, in line with UNHCR precedents elsewhere. UNHCR have discussed a package on these lines with the Vietnamese and will put proposals to them shortly. The Vietnamese agreed that returnees should be humanely treated and subject to monitoring on return. UNHCR's proposals will cover these
aspects.
5. The Hong Kong Government and UNHCR recently signed a Statement of Understanding. This provides for a UNHCR rôle in the screening and appeals procedure, funding arrangements and liberalisation of the camps for refugees. Over 1,000 screening interviews have been carried out but no decisions have yet been announced. It is clear, however, that only a tiny minority of arrivals will be screened in
as refugees.
6. This means that the number of refugees in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement (currently about 15,500) can be regarded as a more-or-less finite number. We are preparing with the Home Office a joint minute to the Prime Minister proposing an additional UK resettlement commitment of 1,000 Vietnamese boat people over the next 2 years. This figure is the lowest that can realistically be expected to draw support from other countries.
7. Initial media coverage in the UK was a reasonably accurate reflection of the press conference held at the end of the talks. But editorial comment has been more critical. Emphasis has been laid on the fact that boat people may be returned to Vietnam by force. There are the anticipated comparisons with the return of the Cossacks to the Soviet Union. The Secretary of State had forewarned the Prime Minister that the media may attempt to drawn emotional and far-fetched analogies of this kind.
CONFIDENTIAL
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