TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 111

CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HANOI

TO DESKBY 25103OZ FCO

TELNO 388

OF 250910Z JULY 89

AND TO DESKBY 25103OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK WASHINGTON UKMIS GENEVA

YOUR 256 OF 24 JULY: VBP: REPATRIATION

1. I SAW CHUONG THIS AFTERNOON. AS PREDICTED IN MY 384 OF 24 JULY (NOT TO ALL), CHUONG OFFERED 630 DOLLARS PER HEAD LIMITED TO THE FIRST GROUP OF 23 RETRURNEES. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THAT I WOULD NOT BUDGE FROM 620 DOLLARS HE CAME DOWN TO THIS FIGURE AGAIN LIMITED TO THE FIRST GROUP, IN THE INTERESTS OF ACHIEVING THE POLITICAL AIM OF GETTING THE FIRST GROUP BACK QUICKLY. CHUONG WOULD NOT SPELL IT OUT BUT HE MADE IT MORE OR LESS CLEAR THAT AFTER THE FIRST GROUP HAD RETURNED WE WOULD HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A

FIGURE HIGHER THAN 620 DOLLARS,

2.

I SAID THAT YOU WOULD CERTAINLY PREFER TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A FIGURE FOR THE FIRST 1000 OR SO IN ORDER THAT WE WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO MAKE A PROPER REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME. SO FAR MY OFFER OF 620 HAD BEEN MADE ON THAT BASIS. HWOWEVER I PROMISED TO SEEK YOUR VIEWS.

3.

THE VIETNAMESE WILL I AM SURE CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE COME DOWN TO OUR FIGURE OF 620 DOLLARS IN THE INTEREST OF GETTING A

FIRST FLIGHT BACK HERE QUICKLY. I HOPE THAT THE LATEST NEWS FROM HONG KONG DOES NOT NOW THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS.

4.

UNLESS HONG KONG WISH TO REVERT TO GETTING A FIRST SMALL GROUP BACK HERE ASAP (WHICH WE COULD NOW DO AT 620 DOLLARS PER HEAD) I SUGGEST THAT WE CONTINUE TO GO FOR AN AGREEMENT COVERING THE FIRST 1000 ALTHOUGH VIETNAMESE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY THEN TRY AND FORCE

UP THE PER CAPITA COST.

5.

GRATEFUL ADVICE.

PARTRIDGE

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