TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 370

CONFIDENTIAL

+KB 2+5/9.

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 05020OZ HANOI

TELNO 233

OF 041815Z JULY 89

AND TO DESKBY 05010OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

38

343/11

.65

31

40

073140

MDHOAN 4344

TOP COPY Q DIST?

(36

YOUR TELNO 335, HONG KONG TELNOS 2066, 2176 AND 2218 AND UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 420: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION.

(37)

1. THE TREASURY HAVE NOW GIVEN AUTHORITY FOR FUNDS TO BE MADE

AVAILABLE TOWARDS THE COST OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. THIS WOULD BE BASED ON THE EXISTING VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME OPERATED BY UNHCR UNDER WHICH UP TO USD1000 IS AVAILABLE PER PERSON. THE

TREASURY HAVE ACCEPTED THAT A 50/50 SPLIT WILL REQUIRE A UK CONTRIBUTION OF UP TO USD 500 PER PERSON. PDS STG 4 MILLION IS AVAILABLE ON THIS BASIS TO THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, AT WHICH TIME THERE WILL BE A FULL REVIEW TO ESTABLISH THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR HONG

KONG'S CONFIRMATION THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BALANCE

HMG'S CONTRIBUTION.

2.

WE AGREE THAT IF WE ARE TO MAKE THE 17 JULY TARGET DATE WE

MUST BE PREPARED TO GO AHEAD BILATERALLY. WE UNDERSTAND (TELECON HEWITT/FOOTMAN) THAT HOCKE HAS REACTED VERY NEGATIVELY TO VIEIRA

DE MELLO'S APPROACH THAT UNHCR MIGHT HELP. WE HOPE THAT HOCKE

WILL EVENTUALLY AGREE TO ASSIST. WE ALSO STILL HAVE IRONS IN THE

FIRE WITH ICM. BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT ANY LONGER.

3.

YOU MAY THEREFORE PROPOSE TO THE VIETNAMESE THAT WE SHOULD

PROCEDE ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS IN ORDER TO MEET THE 17 JULY

DEADLINE:

IT

(A) WE HOPE THAT UNHCR WILL AGREE TO EXTEND THEIR EXISTING

REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO INCLUDE THOSE REPATRIATED

UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, AND TO MONITOR THOSE WHO RETURN. WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO SECURE THEIR AGREEMENT TO THIS IN THE TIME AVAILABLE.

(B) WE THEREFORE PROPOSE FOR THE FIRST BATCH THAT WE AGREE

AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS. AS IN UNHCR'S CASE ASSISTANCE WOULD BE CHANELLED THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF INVALIDS, WAR VETERANS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS. SUCH ASSISTANCE WOULD BE FOR A MAXIMUM OF USD 100

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL