TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 172

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 2630

OF 071745Z OCTOBER 88

CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS.

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YOUR TELNO 3747 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

1.

THANK YOU FOR TUR, WHICH CONFIRMS THAT WE ARE THINKING ON

MUCH THE SAME LINES.

2.

I ENTIRELY AGREE THAT OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO SECURE VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT TO THE EARLY RETURN OF AS MANY PEOPLE AS

POSSIBLE STARTING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS.

IF WE ARE TO ACHIEVE THAT AT NEXT

WEEK'S TALKS, WE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE TO OFFER REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. I ACCEPT THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT

FOR THE HKG TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THIS AT THE OUTSET. IT IS

HELPFUL THAT UNHCR ARE SHOWING WILLING. IF THE UNHCR PROCESSES PROVE TOO SLOW, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING OURSELVES. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ENDORSED

MR PATTEN'S IDEA THAT WE SHOULD FINANCE A SMALL UNHCR PILOT SCHEME, AND I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT I SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION, IF NECESSARY, TO INDICATE TO THE VIETNAMESE NEXT WEEK THAT HMG WOULD BE PREPARED TO DO THIS.

3. WE ARE NOW INCLINED TO THINK THAT IT DOES NOT IN FACT MAKE

MUCH SENSE TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VOLUNTEERS WHERE

INTEGRATION ASSISTANCE IS CONCERNED. THE AIM MUST BE TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO VOLUNTEER, AND GIVING THEM SOME INDUCEMENT MIGHT HELP TO ACHIEVE IT. PENALISING VOLUNTEERS, BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE ONLY TO THOSE WHO RETURN UNWILLINGLY,

WOULD SERVE NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE.

HOWE

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