TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 72

with the return of those (now over 350) who have already

asked to go back to Vietnam;

?

(d) the two sides agreed that UNCHR was the

appropriate agency to arrange a humanitarian repatriation

programme, which would include modest reintegration

assistance;

(e) we confirmed that we were ready in principle to

contribute to such a programme through UNHCR.

I believe this is as good a result as we could

reasonably have expected. It makes a step forward

towards an overall agreement. The key provision is

Vietnam's acceptance of the need for comprehensive

arrangements. We made it clear to the Vietnamese that

all those who did not qualify for resettlement elsewhere

would have to go back. The Vietnamese understood this.

While they are still prepared to take back

only volunteers at this stage, they accepted that this

problem will have to be dealt with step by step.

It was clear that the Vietnamese would not accept any

returns without some form of reintegration assistance.

They were frank about the political difficulties they

face, including the reluctance of communities to take

back people who had left illegally; the lack of

facilities; and the general poverty of the country. A

properly organised repatriation programme could encourage

more to ask to return. They confirmed that their ideas un reintegration assistance>

on a modest scale, in line with UNHCR precedents

were on

elsewhere.

UNHCR have discussed a package on these lines

with the Vietnamese and will put proposals to them