TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 220

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MDHIAN 6485

GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPTANCE OF VOLUNTARY RETURNEES. WHILE THEY RECOGNISED PRESSURE FOR EARLY PROGRESS, VIETNAMESE COULD NOT ACCEPT

FIRST BATCH OF VOLUNTARY RETURNEES BEFORE NEXT UK/HONG KONG

BILATERAL AS SUGGESTED BY UK, ALTHOUGH THEY INTENDED TO TAKE SOME BACK BEFORE END OF 1988.

5. VIEIRA DE MELLO URGED THE VIETNAMESE TO PROCESS THE FIRST BATCH

OF HONG KONG VOLUNTARY RETURNEES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CHE HAD HANDED OVER 53 FILES, COVERING SOME 60 PEOPLE). HE COULD NOT ACCEPT VIETNAMESE IDEA THAT CONSIDERATION OF THESE CASES SHOULD BE

POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED WITH UK/HONG KONG.

AN EARLY START HAD TO BE MADE IN ADVANCE OF A BILATERAL AGREEMENT

WHICH WOULD TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE.

6. VIEIRA DE MELLO SUGGESTED TO VIETNAMESE THAT IT MIGHT BE TIME TO

PREPARE A PROTOCOL COVERING BASIC PRINCIPLES OF REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AND DEFINING UNHCR'S ROLE. THIS WOULD EMPHASISE UNHCR'S

CONCERN FOR REFUGEES, ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND OTHERS OF INTEREST TO UNHCR. THE PROTOCOL WOULD COVER QUESTIONS OF NON-PUNISHMENT OF AND NON-DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RETURNEES, FREE CHOICE OF DESTINATION ON RETURN, MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS AMD (LIMITED) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. IT MIGHT BE

POSSIBLE TO SET OUT IN MORE DETAIL PROCESSING OF CASES, CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION, MODALITIES OF RETURN AND TRANSPORT AND RECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS. UNHCR OFFICE IN HANOI WOULD STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH VIETNAMESE N THESE ISSUES, WHILE GENEVA HQ WORKED ON DRAFT TEXT.

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7. ON QUESTION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, VIETNAMESE SIDE INSISTED THAT THEY WOULD MAINTAIN A SEPARATE DIALOGUE WITH UNHCR, AND WITH HONG KONG AND MALAYSIA THEY HOPED UNHCR FINANCIAL HELP WOULD COVER COSTS OF TRANSPORT (FROM FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRY AND INTERNALLY), TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT POINTS OF ARRIVAL (LIMITED TO HANOI AND HO CHI MINH CITY) BASIC CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES, HOUSING AND DOMESTIC ITEMS, INCLUDING TOOLS, SEEDS, ETC. ASSISTANCE SHOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO COSTS OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND RE-TRAINING FOR ADULTS.

VIETNAMESE ENVISAGED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RETURNEES BEING

PROVIDED FROM TIME OF FIRST ARRIVAL TO REINTEGRATION INTO COMMUNITY.

DURING THIS PERIOD FOOD ASSISTANCE WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY.

VIETNAMESE SIDE MADE CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD USE EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES AND HOPED THAT UNHCR WOULD PROVIDE FINANCE

FOR SUPPORT COSTS IN LINE WITH ODP ARRANGEMENTS (US DOLLARS 22 PER

HEAD).

8. VIEIRA DE MELLO COMMENTED TO US THAT HANOI REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL

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