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repatriation has not worked since the initial screening interview has not produced a high number of volunteers. On the other hand, there is a good argument that anyone who has left Vietnam in a clandestine manner will continue to believe resettlement remains an option, until every channel of appeal has been exhausted. On this latter basis, I do not think we can realistically argue that voluntary repatriation has not worked. We should be in a better position to judge by SC3 in mid-October when the pool of the screened-out is sufficiently large to make such a judgement.
4. If I understand the position correctly, we need to find some way of improving our chances for an (American) re-think on repatriation by October. On this basis it makes sense to argue that we have an experience which the ASEANS do not have so far (since we introduced screening in June 1988) and should, therefore, be treated differently. This will help assuage American fears that what we do in Hong Kong over repatriation is not followed slavishly (and more brutally) by the Thais and Malaysians in particular. On the other hand, we do need UNHCR's help. Our constant lobbying of Hocké seems to be bearing fruit, as he seems now to be less inclined to close the door definitively on UNHCR's involvement with "willing" repatriation. We need, therefore, to ensure that our action before October maintains the progress so far and does not force UNHCR into a firm negative position. We may have to talk in different ways to the Americans and UNHCR, but I hope we can avoid making too much of the linkage between voluntary repatriation and the date when we introduced screening in Hong Kong.
مسه
You
jarin
ous ever.
G W Hewitt
CC:
A R Brenton Esq
UND, FCO
AR Paul Esq,
Hong Kong Department, FCO
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