CONFIDENTIAL
MKCD 243/1s
(S3
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2604
OF 031415Z OCTOBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
167727 MDHOAN 6041
OUR SECOND IPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: PREPARATION FOR FORTHCOMING TALKS
AGENDA ITEM 4:
1.
COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT: DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE
WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE RETURN TO VIETNAM OF ALL BOAT PEOPLE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS IN FIRST ROUND. HOPE WE CAN NOW TAKE MATTER FURTHER, AND AGREE ON MAIN ELEMENTS OF A SETTLEMENT.
WISH TO RESTATE THE POSITION AS WE SEE IT. FIRMLY BELIEVE RETURN TO VIETNAM OF ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS THE RIGHT PATH TO FOLLOW. STANDARD PRACTICE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
2 =
THAT IT IS A TERRITORY'S PREROGATIVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IMMIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED LEGALLY, AND TO RETURN THOSE WHO HAVE ARRIVED ILLEGALLY TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THIS IS HUMANE COURSE OF ACTION. POST-16 JUNE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVALS WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA HAVE NO PROSPECT OF RESETTLEMENT. ONLY OPTIONS ARE PROMPT RETURN TO VIETNAM, OR INDEFINITE DETENTION IN HONG KONG PENDING THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM. MUST NOT PRETEND OTHERWISE, OR OTHERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MISLED, AND SET OUT ON DANGEROUS JOURNEY WHICH CAN ONLY END, EVENTUALLY, IN RETURN TO VIETNAM.
3.
MOREOVER, CURRENT SITUATION IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM AND FOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. CONTINUED PRESENCE OF BOAT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA PLACES HEAVY BURDEN ON ALL CONCERNED. CREATES VERY BAD IMPRESSION OF VIETNAM.
4.
MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AGAINST FUTURE CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES BY BOAT WOULD BE WELL-PUBLICISED ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMPT RETURN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO VIETNAM. HOPE THAT WE CAN NOW HAVE FRUITFUL DISCUSSION OF THIS. MAIN ELEMENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT INCLUDE
RETURN TO VIETNAM OF ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS:
-
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND HONG
KONG AUTHORITIES TO FACILITATE THIS:
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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