TNAG-1903-FCO40-2705-Hong-Kong-cabinet-meetings-on-Vietnamese-refugees-1990 — Page 49

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of opinion will ever accept mandatory repatriation without question. Now that significant numbers of screened out boat people are

emerging from the screening process, it will be difficult to justify further delay. But embarking on a programme of mandatory

repatriation is not risk free. The key considerations are as

follows:

(a) Minimum force may be necessary in some cases,

cases, leading to adverse

publicity, which could affect the willingness of the Vietnamese to

cooperate with us over further non-voluntary returns.

(b) Our present agreement with Vietnam relates only to an initial

batch of non-volunteers. We would need to negotiate further to

achieve a programme of substantial and regular returns.

This may weil require a significant financial inducement to Vietnam, probably

in the form of assistance for the reintegration of returnees into

Vietnamese society.

(c) Monitoring must be part of any mandatory repatriation programme. Initially, and as long as the numbers were limited, we could carry

out monitoring ourselves, either through our Embassy in Hanoi or by.

ad hoc visits. But it would be greatly preferable if monitoring

could be undertaken by the UNHCR or by an impartial internationally

recognised body (which would require international acceptance of

mandatory repatriation.) The British Refugee Council have agreed to

see whether British NGOS might help (but have warned that HMG would

need to provide the finance).

(d) There could be an adverse reaction in the camps in Hong Kong to

mandatory repatriation, eg hunger strikes, rioting, etc. In the

worst case, we cannot rule out that the Governor might seek:

assistance from the British garrison to maintain order.

(e) We are likely to face American criticism, almost certainly

publicly, and hostility in Parliament and the press here..

10. We shall wish both to accelerate voluntary repatriation

and begin mandatory repatriation as soon as practicable after the

Steering Committee meeting (SC3) on 16/17 October; we shall need

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