CONFIDENTIAL
071017
05
MDHIAN
MANDATORY REPATRIATION THERE CAN BE NO COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION. OUR LINE ON THIS WILL BE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORCE OF THE ARGUMENT, BUT TO TRY TO REDUCE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ICIR. MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS NOT LIKELY TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY AND A GREATER EFFORT ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION NEEDS TO BE MADE FIRST. HOWEVER, IF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROVES TO BE INSUFFICIENT WITHIN A REASONABLY SHORT AND DEFINED PERIOD WE BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, AND VIETNAM IN PARTICULAR, MUST BE PREPARED TO INTRODUCE.
(III) ON FIRST ASYLUM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WILL EXPLAIN THE HUMANITARIAN REASONS FOR THE POLICY, THE IMPLICATIONS OF ABANDONING IT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING FIRST ASYLUM WITHIN THE ICIR
FRAMEWORK.
3. WE FEEL THAT THE ABOVE IS THE MINIMUM WE CAN SAY IF OUR PRESENT
POLICIES ARE TO RETAIN ANY CREDIBILITY IN HONG KONG. IF THE ICIR FAILS TO PROVIDE A CLEAR ROUTE TO LARGE SCALE REPATRIATION WE SHALL COME UNDER VERY SEVERE PRESSURE TO CHANGE OUR PRESENT POLICY. ALTHOUGH WE ARE LOOKING AT POLICY OPTIONS WHICH FALL SHORT OF WITHDRAWING FIRST ASYLUM, WE BELIEVE IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT A POST ICIR POLICY REVIEW. WE SHALL THEREFORE DEFLECT ANY SUCH ARGUMENTS BY STRESSING THAT OUR OBJECTIVE FOR THE ICIR IS A
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF SOLUTIONS.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 16010OZ ON THE LINE WE PROPOSE TO TAKE.
WILSON
YYYY
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MR GILLMORE
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