TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 212

CONFIDENTIAL

167727 MDHOAN 6041

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ASSURANCES THAT BOAT PEOPLE WILL BE TREATED WELL ON THEIR RETURN, AND WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO PERSECUTION OR REPRISAL:

ARRANGEMENTS TO ENABLE MONITORING, PROBABLY BY UNHCR, OF THOSE WHO RETURN.

AT THE LAST ROUND, WE SAID THAT WE DID NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LIMITED FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HMG AND HKG TO HELP WITH REINTEGRATION OF RETURNEES. THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE THROUGH UNHCR. WE SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO COMMIT HMG OR HKG IN ANY WAY. IF THIS POSSIBILITY WERE TO MATERIALISE, IT COULD ONLY BE AS A PART OF A PACKAGE TO DEAL WITH ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAD ARRIVED AFTER 16 JUNE.

5. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THOUGHTS THE VIETNAMESE SIDE HAVE ON THIS MATTER AND THE WAY AHEAD.

(TO USE IF APPROPRIATE)

6.

SINCE THE FIRST ROUND WE HAVE FURTHER CONSIDERED THE QUESTION OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. PROVIDED THAT THE TWO SIDES CAN REACH AGREEMENT ON A COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE RETURN OF ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BOAT PEOPLE TO VIETNAM FROM HONG KONG, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONTEMPLATE A MODEST SCHEME FOR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. MUST EMPHASISE THAT ANY SUCH ASSISTANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY LIMITED IN NATURE. ENVISAGE THAT ANY PROGRAMME WOULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER UNHCR AUSPICES. (IF APPROPRIATE) HOW HAS YOUR THINKING ON THIS DEVELOPED?

DEFENSIVE POINTS

7.

TOO

(WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE DO HMG/HKG HAVE IN MIND?). EARLY TO SAY. IDEAS WILL HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR.

8. (WHEN CAN ASSISTANCE PACKAGE BE PUT IN PLACE?) ONCE WE HAVE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT, WE WOULD AIM TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS IN DETAIL WITH UNHCR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE

9. (VISIT BY VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS TO HONG KONG). HAVE NOT RULED OUT POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A VISIT. BUT NOT CLEAR WHAT VIETNAMESE SIDE ENVISAGE THE OFFICIALS WILL DO IN HONG KONG. HAVE STRONG RESERVATIONS BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE EFFECT ON SITUATION IN THE CAMPS. (IF AGREEING TO SUCH A VISIT IS FINAL OBSTACLE COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT). DESPITE RESERVATIONS, COULD AGREE SUCH A VISIT IF DETAILS WERE AGREED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, AND SUBJECT TO CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE CAMPS.

HOWE

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