TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 95

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 14010UZ HONG KONG

TELNO 2686

OF 131200Z OCTOBER 88

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI

क

MKD 243115

106

TOP COPY

016346

MDHOAN 6580

OUR TELNO 2669

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS WITH

VIETNAM.

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SUBJECT TO ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE

WE INTEND TO INSTRUCT EC, ASEAN AND ICG POSTS, AND WELLINGTON AND PEKING TO GIVE HOST GOVERNMENTS A COPY OF

THE PRESS STATEMENT IN TUR AND BRIEF THEM ON THE TALKS ON THE

FOLLOWING LINES:

(A) THE TALKS TOOK PLACE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE

ATMOSPHERE:

(B) WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO VIETNAMESE ACCEPTANCE THAT COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR ALL THOSE SCREENED OUT. THE TWO SIDES AGREED AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUCH ARRANGEMENTS TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE WHO HAD ASKED TO GO BACK 350 HAVE ALREADY DONE SO. (IF APPROPRIATE) WE HAVE LEFT THE VIETNAMESE IN NO DOUBT THAT IN DUE COURSE ALL (ALL) POST 15 JUNE ARRIVALS WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES MUST GO BACK TO VIETNAM. THE

VIETNAMESE UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION.

(C) THERE WAS AGREEMENT ON THE NEED TO MAKE EARLY PROGRESS ON THE

FIRST RETURNS.

(D) THE TWO SIDES LOOK TO UNHCR AS THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY TO DEVELOP A HUMANITARIAN REPATRIATION PACKAGE, WHICH

WOULD INCLUDE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. (IF NECESSARY)

WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNHCR HAS HELD INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON SUCH A PACKAGE, AND WILL BE PUTTING PROPOSALS TO THEM SHORTLY. WE AND THE VIETNAMESE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNHCR PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUAL RETURNEES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES, AND WILL BE NON-DEVELOPMENTAL IN NATURE. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOR HUMANITARIAN TREATMENT OF RETURNEES, AND MONITORING. WE ARE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND WILL BE MODEST.

(E) THE VIETNAMESE EMPHASIZED THAT THEY WERE DETERMINED TO STOP CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES BY BOAT. THEY HAD GIVEN PUBLICITY TO THIS IN VIETNAM, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE THOSE WHO ORGANISED 'ILLEGAL DEPARTURES' TO COURT.

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CONFIDENTIAL