CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 12073OZ FCO
TELNO 3796
OF 12063OZ OCTOBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGPORE
82
88
TOP COP Q DIST ?
92
010550
MDHIAN 7205
MKD 243/15
20.
PA
они
1
YOUR TELNOS 2653 TO 2659: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS WITH VIETNAM
1. THE EXCHANGE ON THE ELEMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT (7TH TUR) IS REASONABLY ENCOURAGING, PARTICULARLY KHOAN'S READINESS (PARAGRAPH 10) TO DISCUSS THE CENTRAL PROBLEM OF REPATRIATION OF ALL WHO CANNOT BE RESETTLED. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THE PRINCIPAL CONCERN OF THE VIETNAMESE IS TO AVOID BEING PERCEIVED AS THE INSTIGATORS OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. IF THE EMPHASIS CAN CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ON OUR INTENTION TO REPATRIATE ALL THOSE WHO ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP THE VIETNAMESE OVER THIS HURDLE.
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2. I AM GENERALLY CONTENT WITH THE REVISED DRAFT PRESS STATEMENT IN THIRD TUR. MY MAIN CONCERN RELATES TO THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 3. EXCO IS CERTAINLY AWARE OF OUR POSITION ON REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. ALTHOUGH WE HAV NOT FORMALLY CONSULTED THEM I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT OUR POSITION. LEGCO AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN IN DISSOLUTION UNTIL TODAY, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY APPROACH TO THEM. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE COULD RUN THE RISK OF AN UNHELPFUL REACTION IF WE MADE THE FIRM COMMITMENTS IN THE DRAFT TEXT WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION. A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE SAID PUBLICLY IN THE PAST THAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO ANY FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. WE SHALL NEED TO PROVIDE LADDERS FOR THEM TO CLIMB DOWN.
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3 I WOULD BE MUCH HAPPIER IF YOU COULD FIND ALTERNATIVE WORDING. ONE OPTION MIGHT BE TO SUBSTITUTE QUOTE CONSIDER EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNQUOTE FOR EXTEND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNQUOTE, ALTHOUGH THE VIETNAMESE MIGHT WELL FEEL THAT THIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY POSITIVE OR BINDING (AS INDEED IT IS NOT).
4. ALTERNATIVELY, WE COULD LIVE WITH SOME FORULA SUCH AS QUOTE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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