TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 286

CONFIDENTIAL

НКВ 27319

81

116717

MDHOAN 4841

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 13010OZ HANOI

TELNO 248

OF 12173OZ JULY 89

AND TO DESKBY 13010OZ HONG KONG

TOP COPY O DIST ?

59-80

OUR TELNOS 245-6 AND YOUR TELNO 2331: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

REPATRIATION: DRAFT AGREED MINUTE

1.

WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED A PROCEDURAL HOOP THROUGH WHICH WE MUST JUMP. SINCE DIRECT EXPENDITURE ON REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE

BOAT PEOPLE IS A COMPLETELY NEW ACTIVITY IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR SO FAR AS THE FCO IS CONCERNED WE NEED TO INFORM PARLIAMENT

BY MEANS OF AN INSPIRED PQ BEFORE WE CAN DISBURSE ANY FUNDS.

THIS PROCEDURE MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE WE CAN SIGN THE AGREED

MINUTE. WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

2-

THE TREASURY HAVE EXPLAINED TO US THAT, SINCE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAVE NOT YET FORMALLY AGREED THAT HONG KONG SHOULD MEET HALF THE COST OF THE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME,

THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN AUTHORISING THE SIGNATURE

OF AN AGREEMENT WHICH WENT BEYOND THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE INITIAL

COMMITMENT.

3=

/

THESE ARE TEDIOUS PROBLEMS, BUT WE MUST ACCOMMODATE THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THE AGREED

MINUTE SHOULD APPLY TO THE FIRST BATCH OF UP TO 26 RETURNEES

ONLY AND THAT THEREAFTER IT CAN BE CONTINUED IF THE TWO SIDES AGREE, OR CAN BE CHANGED IF THE TWO SIDES THINK NECESSARY. (WE WOULD AIM TO ACHIEVE AN EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT AS SOON AS

HONG KONG CAN CONFIRM THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL AGREE TO

PROVIDE 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMME.)

4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

HOWE

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL