TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 251

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1506

OF 132OOOZ JULY 89

AND TO DESKBY 14010OZ HANOI

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 243/3

INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA

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이

122254

MDHOAN 4922

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN

MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION: PRESENTATIONAL

ASPECTS

1.

FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED LINE TO TAKE WITH THE MEDIA.

(A) CONFIRM THAT A BATCH OF ABOUT TWENTY VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WERE REPATRIATED ON (?) JULY:

(B)

THOSE RETURNING HAVE ALL COMPLETED THE FULL SCREENING PROCEDURE, INCLUDING APPEALS. (IF NECESSARY) UNHCR HAVE HAD

ACCESS TO ALL CONCERNED:

(C) VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAVE ASSURED US THAT THOSE RETURNING WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR HAVING LEFT CLANDESTINELY, AND THAT WE

CAN MONITOR THEIR TREATMENT AFTER RETURN:

(D) WE SHALL PROVIDE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE SIMILAR TO THAT

GIVEN FOR THOSE RETURNING UNDER UNHCR'S PROGRAMME.

2. FOR USE AS NECESSARY:

(E) NO QUESTION OF USING FORCE. WE ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO

PERSUADE ALL NON-REFUGEES TO ACCEPT THAT

THEIR FUTURE LIES IN VIETNAM, NOT IN A HOLDING CAMP IN HONG KONG: (F) OUR POLICY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE CPA UNDER WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGREED THAT ALL NON-REFUGEES SHOULD 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 ABOUT A YEAR: (H) WE HOPE THAT UNHCR OR ANOTHER AGENCY WILL IN DUE COURSE ADMINISTER AN EXPANDED REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, AND WILL TAKE CHARGE OF MONITORING AND PAYMENT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. (IF PRESSED)

UNHCR DECLINED TO BE INVOLVED AT THIS STAGE ON THE GROUNDS THAT

THOSE CONCERNED FELL OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF THEIR MANDATE. THEY ALSO WISHED TO GIVE MORE TIME FOR VOLUNTARY PROCESS TO WORK BEFORE CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE MEASURES. WE HAVE EXPLAINED THAT SCREENING IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN UNDER WAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND HAS PRODUCED FEW VOLUNTEERS.

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