TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 247

CONFIDENTIAL

155565 MDADAN 1263

6. WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THE RETURN OF ECVIIS TO GUANGXI PROVINCE. THE MAIN DIFFICULTY (APART FROM THE VALIDATION OF RESIDENCY) HAS BEEN THE RELUCTANCE OF THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES TO COMMIT THE VEHICLES AND MANPOWER FOR THE JOURNEY. IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS OPTION FURTHER WITH THE CHINESE IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND MAKE THE OPERATION ATTRACTIVE TO THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COST SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WITHOUT EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE.

REPATRIATION BY SEA

7. IN 1987 LARGE NUMBERS OF ECVIIS WERE REPATRIATED TO GUANGXI

PROVINCE FROM HONG KONG BY SHIP AND ROAD. WE CHARTERED A SHIP (THE LO SHAN) AND DELIVERED ABOUT 2,000 ECVIIS IN 4 TRIPS TO BEIHAI. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THEN DELIVERED THESE PEOPLE TO THEIR HOME TOWNS AND FARMS. THE WHOLE EXERCISE COST ABOUT HK DOLLARS 5 MILLION AND TOOK ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS. THE LO SHAN MIGHT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN AND WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR A JOURNEY TO NORTHERN VIETNAM. WE HAVE MADE SOME PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES AND THE LO SHAN COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A MONTH'S NOTICE AND AT A CHARTER COST OF HK DOLLARS 7.5 MILLION PER MONTH. CONSIDERING THE SCALE OF THE EXERCISE IT

MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO BUY THE LO SHAN (WE UNDERSTAND THE OWNER WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A SALE) AND PLACE IT IN THE HANDS OF A MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHICH WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE SHIP. THE PRICE OF THE SHIP WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE RANGE HKD 60 MILLION TO HKD 80 MILLION. SECURITY ONBOARD WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE. THE VIETNAMESE WOULD HAVE TO BE ASKED TO ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF RECEPTION ARRANGEMENT AT A DESIGNATED PORT AND TO GUARANTEE RAPID TURN ROUND

FOR THE LO SHAN.

REPATRIATION BY AIR

8. THE PRESENT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME USES AIRCRAFT

CHARTERED THROUGH ICM. WE BELIEVE THAT THE AIRLINES AND THEIR CREWS WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO UNDERTAKE CHARTER WORK FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF NON-VOLUNTEERS. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A CHARTER AIRCRAFT, AT A COST OF ABOUT US DOLLARS 30,000 PER TRIP, FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROVIDED SECURITY COULD BE GUARANTEED. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIR CHARTER OPTION IS VIABLE FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF RELUCTANT RETURNEES. BUT A START WITH MANDATORY REPATRIATION FOR SMALL NUMBERS OF THOSE WHOSE APPEALS FOR REFUGEE STATUS HAVE BEEN REJECTED MIGHT WELL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOLUNTEER FOR REPATRIATION.