TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 2687

OF 13123OZ OCTOBER 88

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI

MKO 243/15

R

TRY

+ 4 OCT 1988

107

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TOP COPY

016360

MDHOAN 6583

MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: SECOND

ROUND OF TALKS WITH VIETNAM

1.

SUBJECT TO ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE WE INTEND TO INSTRUCT UKMIS GENEVA TO BRIEF UNHCR ON THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS, DRAWING AS APPROPRIATE ON MIPT AND HANDING OVER A COPY OF THE TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT. WE ENVISAGE THAT UKMIS GENEVA SHOULD SAY THAT BOTH WE AND THE

VIETNAMESE VIEW UNHCR AS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE SAFE AND PROMPT RETURN OF PEOPLE TO VIETNAM, AND THE TWO SIDES LOOK FORWARD TO COOPERATING WITH UNHCR ON THIS.

2.

UKMIS GENEVA SHOULD ALSO TAKE UP THE FOLLOWING POINTS WITH UNHCR:

(A) SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THE TIMING OF THE NEXT STEPS IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE. IF NECESSARY, PLEASE PRESS THEM

TO TAKE PROMPT ACTION:

(B) ASK TO BE KEPT INFORMED IN DETAIL OF UNHCR/VIETNAMESE THINKING ON THE ELEMENTS OF A REPATRIATION AND REINTEGRATION

ASSISTANCE PACKAGE AS IT DEVELOPS:

(C) MINISTERS WISH TO KNOW WHAT COSTS ARE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PACKAGE NOW EMERGING. WE HAVE INFORMED THEM THAT INITIAL

COSTS ARE LIKELY TO BE MODEST AND WILL PROBABLY BE MET BY UNHCR.

BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR MORE PRECISE DETAILS THAT YOU CAN

OBTAIN ON LIKELY COSTS.

3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 1409OOZ

IF POSSIBLE.

HOWE

YYYY

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