TNAG-1893-FCO40-2687-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 40

CONFIDENTIAL

(b)

Kong is a special category. Screening of boat people was introduced 15 months earlier than other places of first asylum and it has special problems, eg overcrowded camps, cholera.

(iv) SC2 urged that priority be given to consideration of a regional holding centre for non-refugees of the kind envisaged in the CPA pending their eventual return to their country of origin. UNHCR have requested a feasibility study. While we see little prospect that finance will be made available it is important that we continue to support this idea.

(v)

In the run-up to SC3 we shall wish to lobby the principal players, the Thais, Malaysians, Australians and Japanese to prepare the ground. They are generally supportive of our position on mandatory repatriation. But we shall need to use our influence with the Thais and Malays to persuade them to accept Hong Kong as a special case and not a precedent for them to proceed with mandatory repatriation.

Critical path to the First Deportation of VBPS (at an assured

date of 30 October 1989)

(i) 140 candidates now cleared

for repatriation. Counselling

to achieve acquiescence to

continue.

Need for continued pressure

on UNHCR to monitor non-

volunteers after return.

(ii) Prepare assessment of likely US position at SC3.

(iii) 16/17 October: SC3

Sign Agreed minute on

modalities of repatriation

under 26 June Agreement with

Vietnamese.

Notify Vietnamese

authorities of proposed

aircraft flight time etc.

L

Fir approaches to NGOs on monitoring already made:

need to follow up in London

and Hong Kong.

Desirable: achieve UNHCR

agreement at SC3 to accept

monitoring role over non-

volunteers.

CONFIDENTIAL