TNAG-1839-FCO40-2614-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 78

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 43. Two rounds of talks have been held between

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Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

representatives from the United Kingdom and Hong Kong and from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. At the second

round of talks in London in October, the two sides agreed on the need for comprehensive arrangements for all boat people arriving in Hong Kong after 16 June 1988. The two

sides agreed to make an immediate start on arrangements for the return of those who had already asked to be

repatriated. Assurances have been obtained from the

Vietnamese authorities that all returnees will be treated

humanely and will not be punished. It was also agreed

that the UNHCR should monitor the treatment of returnees

and their reintegration into Vietnam. In December, the

UNHCR and the Vietnamese authorities concluded a

Memorandum of Understanding on the principles and

procedures for voluntary repatriation to Vietnam. The

UNHCR is taking charge of practical arrangements for the return of those who have expressed a wish to return to

Vietnam.

44.

These 1,000

In December 1988, the Government announced that it

was prepared in principle to accept for resettlement an additional 1,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong over the next 2-3 years, provided that other Governments were prepared to contribute commensurately.

refugees would include relatives of Vietnamese already here and others with the potential to quickly become self-sufficient in the United Kingdom, together with some who have been in the camps for a long time and have not