TNAG-1903-FCO40-2705-Hong-Kong-cabinet-meetings-on-Vietnamese-refugees-1990 — Page 105

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circumstances, the Hong Kong authorities would need to use their normal deportation procedures. If we gave notice of an intention to use minimum force, the Vietnamese might well cancel the operation on

the grounds that such measures would be inconsistent with the 26

June Agreement (Annex A). But if minimum force is used, it will generate strong criticism, notably from the Americans, and may make the Vietnamese cancel the entire repatriation exercise. To persuade

them to continue under these conditions, we may need to consider development aid to Vietnam, perhaps, as they want, in the form of aid to areas where boat people come from, or increase re-integration payments to returning boat people. We are already committed to

discussing modifications to the process after the first return.

21.

I invite colleagues to endorse the assessment in this paper

and the intentions for follow-up action.

We ✡ world thus intend to get

on

with

the operation with wrt advining the Vietramere!

of

This has nsks

de details. Broderik does have to be used

Menenim Gorce

,

JM

(a) connne (5)

Vom

c/n

PC1AAQ

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