CONFIDENTIAL
understand US sensitivities and hope our predicament in Hong Kong is
better understood.
No desire to undermine the CPA. Welcome US attempts to find
practical ways to get the CPA to work eg. pressure on the UNHCR
more effective counselling of screened out boat people that there is
no alternative to repatriation.
Barring a further severe deterioration of situation in Hong Kong,
we believe Hong Kong can hold out until after the next stage of the
Geneva Conference process, the Review Meeting (SC3) on 16-17
October, before stating to repatriate non-volunteers. But no
longer.
Our requirements under next stage of CPA process
Barring a dramatic improvement in the voluntary programme, we shall be looking at SC3 for international support to proceed with
mandatory repatriation from Hong Kong.
This need not set a precedent for other places of first asylum. Hong Kong is in a special category. Screening has already been in place there for fifteen months and the situation has become
intolerable.
Expect considerable sympathy for our position among CPA
countries.
Hope you you can support approach or at least not object
to it at SC3. We are ready to use our influence with Thailand and
Malaysia not to embark on mandatory repatriation until at least twelve months from date they introduced screening.
Mandatory repatriation
No question of repatriating boat people without assurances that they will not be punished for having left Vietnam and will be
treated humanely.
Vietnamese Government have committed themselves
on this.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.