TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 317

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKMIS GENEVA

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 436

OF 071537Z JULY 1989

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 243/3

6x)

03571

MDHIAN 2453

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS NEW YORK

43

MY TELNO 427: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

SUMMARY

1 HOCKE RAISES WITH UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNS ON UK/ HONG KONG/VIETNAM DISCUSSIONS ON VBPS AND RECEIVES SOME SUPPORT. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE UNHCR INVOLEMENT IN MONITORING AND REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE UNDER ANY BILATERAL ARRANGEMENT. POSSIBLE NEED TO BRIEF THE UN SECRETARIAT IN NEW YORK ON OUR INTENTIONS. HOW

WE MIGHT PRESENT OUR BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS TO DISARM UNHCR AND

OTHER POSSIBLE CRITICS.

DETAIL

2. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, HOCKE, USED THE OPPORTUNITY OF DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON 6 JULY ON UNHCR'S ROLE IN ANY CAMBODIA SETTLEMENT, TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERNS ABOUT UK/HONG KONG/VIETNAM DISCUSSIONS ON REPATRIATION OF VBPS TO VIETNAM, IN PARALLEL WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION, AGREED AT ICIR ON

13/14 JUNE.

3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HOCKE REMINDED THE SECRETARY-GENERAL THAT THE CPA EMPHASISED VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE TO VIETNAM FROM COUTNRIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND HONG KONG. THERE WAS NO AUTOMATIC LINK BETWEEN VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AND THE ADOPTION OF ''OTHER MEASURES''. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT UK/HONG KONG DISCUSSIONS WITH VIETNAM ABOUT REPATRIATION OF VBPS ON A BILATERAL BASIS, COMMENTING THAT, IF THIS HAPPENED, UNHCR'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CPA ARRANGEMENT WAS AT STAKE. HE TOLD THE S-G THAT, AS HE UNDERSTOOD THE POSITION, A FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE RETURNED SOON TO VIETNAM. THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO UNHCR. SUCH ACTION BY HONG KONG WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS IN THE REGION TO DO THE

SAME. UNHCR AND THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD OPPOSE SUCH MOVES. IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL APPARENTLY EXPRESSED SYMPATHY WITH HOCKE'S POSITION. THE AMERICANS AND FRENCH WERE OPPOSED TO NON-VOLUNTARY RETURN. THE UK AND HONG KONG SHOULD NOT RUSH THEIR

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