TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 228

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MDHIAN 3298

RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

G. IT WOULD BE WRONG NOT TO REPATRIATE THOSE WHO RECOGNISE THAT EVENTUALLY THEY MUST RETURN TO VIETNAM. THOSE WHO HAVE NOW RETURNED HAD ALREADY BEEN IN CAMPS IN HONG KONG FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

H. WE HOPE THAT UNHCR OR OTHER AGENCIES WILL IN DUE COURSE ADMINISTER AN EXPANDED REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, AND WILL TAKE CHARGE OF MONITORING AND PAYMENT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. (IF PRESSED)

UNHCR HAVE NOT FELT ABLE TO BE INVOLVED AT THIS STAGE BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THOSE CONCERNED FALL OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THEIR MANDATE. TYE ALSO WISH TO GIVE MORE TIME FOR THE PARALLEL VOLUNTARY PROCESS

TO WORK BEFORE CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE MEASURES.

I. WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO PARTICIPATING COUNTIRES AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE THAT, UNLIKE OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM, SCREENING IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTINGLY FEW VOLUNTEERS, IN THE CASE OF HONG

KONG IT IS MORE HUMANE TO GO AHEAD WITH REPATRIATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF SCREENING AND APPEAL RATHER THAN LEAVE THEM WAITING ENDLESSLY IN CAMPS WHILE AWAITING A REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME. ONE THING IS QUITE CLEAR: THEY HAVE NO PROSPECT OF GETTING RESETTLEMENT IN THIRD COUNTRIES AS THEY HAD HOPED.

J. MONITORING WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY. BASED ON EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE WHO RETURNED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WILL HONOUR THEIR ASSURANCES ABOUT GOOD TREATMENT. INDEED THEY HAVE EVERY INTEREST IN DOING SO IF THEIR RETURN TO

INTERNATIONAL RESPECTABILITY IS NOT TO BE COMPROMISED:

K. REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE IS DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE RETURNING TO

RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN VIETNAM. IT IS ESSENTIALLY HUMANITARIAN IN NATURE AND WILL BENEFIT THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CONCERNED. IT IS IN NO SENSE BILATERAL DEVELOPMENT AID. CONSIDERATION OF THAT

ISSUE WOULD DEPEND ON WITHDRAWAL OF VIETNAMESE TROOPS FROM CAMBODIA, AS WELL AS FURTHER PROGRESS IN SETTLING THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM.

WILSON

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