TNAG-1903-FCO40-2705-Hong-Kong-cabinet-meetings-on-Vietnamese-refugees-1990 — Page 93

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to murder. Once landed, they would constitute a new and

unmanageable category of boat person unless they were screened, like

everyone else. Moreover the problem of what to do with these people

once landed, and how to return them to Vietnam would remain.

(b) Regional Holding Centre for the screened-out

There is no prospect that a Government can be found willing to

play host to such a centre, unless cast-iron assurances are

forthcoming that the inmates will be returned to the country of

origin or otherwise removed within a finite period of time.

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this will wit happen.

(c) Regional Processing Centre for Refugees awaiting resettlement

After a promising start, the proposed Regional Processing Centre in the Philippines (RPCP) for Refugees, conditionally offered by the Filipino Foreign Minister at the ICIR, has made little progress. The Filipinos have finally agreed to a feasibility study under UNHCR

auspices. But Foreign Minister Manglapus is still insisting on the

creation of a counterpart camp for the screened-out, if not in

Vietnam then in the US or elsewhere, as a condition for going ahead.

The longer it takes to set up the RPCP, the less its value to Hong

Kong as a means of easing their problems.

THE FIRST REPATRIATION AND AFTER

16.

It must be recognised that there is a real risk that, even

if we were able to return one batch of non-volunteers, the

Vietnamese might decline to accept further batches. The first

return will be a particularly delicate operation. We cannot rule

out that some of those selected for repatriation will at the last

moment resist. Under these 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 our Agreement with them. But if minimum force is

used, it will generate strong criticism, notably from the Americans,

betont in proibility funding

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Ince publicly.

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