TNAG-1905-FCO40-2709-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 387

CONFIDENTIAL

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062604

MDHIAN 1485

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 30140OZ FCO

TELNO 2176

OF 30133OZ JUNE 89

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

YOUR TELNO 232 : OUR TELNOS 2117 AND 2066 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE :

REPATRIATION

THERE WOULD SEEM TO BE TWO SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED

BEFORE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP OF NON-

VOLUNTEERS TAKES PLACE I.E. FINANCE AND POST RETURN MONITORING. WE HAVE EXPLAINED OUR THINKING ON THESE ISSUES IN SECOND AND THIRD TURS.

2. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION THAT A 50/50

SHARING OF ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPATRIATION SCHEME IS ACCEPTABLE TO HMG. WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT UKMIS GENEVA BE ASKED TO SOUND OUT UNHCR ON POST-RETURN MONITORING AND DISTRIBUTING

REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE IN VIETNAM. IF WE ARE AIMING FOR THE

FIRST GROUP TO RETURN ON 17 JULY WE NEED TO SETTLE BOTH ISSUES

QUICKLY.

3.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE WE NEED

TO GIVE THEM 14 DAYS NOTICE OF THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP. OUR

DEADLINE FOR FIXING THE FLIGHT DETAILS IS THEREFORE 3 JULY.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EVIDENT READINESS

OF THACH TO GET THINGS MOVING AND TO ACHIEVE THE RETURN OF THIS BATCH QUICKLY. WITH THIS IN MIND, I BELIEVE THAT, IF THE UNHCR SHOW ANY SIGNS OF DRAGGING THEIR FEET IN EITHER MONITORING OR ASSISTANCE, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOTH ON A BILATERAL BASIS. WE SHOULD OF COURSE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON UNHCR TO TAKE OVER THESE TASKS. BUT, GIVEN THE SMALL SIZE OF THE FIRST GROUP, SUBJECT TO HANOI'S VIEWS, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO COPE ON OUR OWN, IF WE HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.

WILSON

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