TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 22

BAG ACS (8)

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great difficulty persuading the Americans to go along with our approach and that domestically there would be unfair comparisons

drawn with the Cossacks etc. But reason and logic (and humanitarianism) are on our side

our side given that the entire

international community accepts that non refugees cannot be resettled in the West, the choice is either to leave boat people to

vegetate indefinitely in camps in Hong Kong and elsewhere, or to

arrange for their return to Vietnam with assurances about their treatment and monitoring.

20. It is clear however that our plans to send back the first group under the arrangements agreed with Vietnam are running into the

sand. The Hong Kong Government need more time to assemble a group

of screened out boat people who would be suitable candidates for the

first group.

The problem is to ensure that the individuals

concerned are truly acquiescent, given the need to avoid having to

use force. But misleading press reports about our intentions (the result, it seems of leaks in Hong Kong) and the unhelpful attitude

taken by UNHCR, have caused many potential candidates to think

again.

21. Hong Kong have said that under these circumstances they cannot

proceed with the first repatriation until the second half of August. In practice this probably means the end of August and may well slip

into September. There would be no advantage in rushing arrangements if at the end of the day only a handful of boat people went back. It would in my view simply not be worth the candle.

22. But the delay requested by Hong Kong does give us time. We

should make full use of that time to prepare for the first

repatriation exercise when it takes place :

(a) We should make a renewed attempt to persuade the Americans to modify their uncompromising opposition to our policy. Their

attitude is the key to securing the cooperation of UNHCR over

the monitoring of those returned. We should also use the threat

of imminent repatriation as a lever to focus American minds on

the need to consider seriously and urgently alternatives

voluntary repatriation, as envisaged under the Comprehensive

CONFIDENTIAL