TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 142

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HKB

243 19

From:

A R Paul

YUGAAE

RECEIVI

30AUG 1981

-9 AUG 1989

(190)

Hong Kong Department

DESK OF INDEX

Date:

9 August 1989

P/

on tuker

CC:

Mr Gillmore

PS/Mr Maude

Private Secretary

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: MONITOR ING

Α

1.

Mr Godson, SEAD

Mr Brenton, UND

I submit a paper, produced by Mr Haswell in consultation with SEAD, on the possible options for arrangements for monitoring the

conditions of boat people who have returned to Vietnam

non-voluntarily.

meeting of 7 August.

2.

It goes over the ground covered in Mr Maude's

I agree with the analysis and the recommendations in Mr Haswell's paper. I would like to add the following thoughts:

(a) credible monitoring is clearly an essential element in our

plans to repatriate non-volunteers. But whilst it is desirable that

we should aim for monitoring arrangements which are as thorough and

convincing as possible, we should recognise that there are

limitations on what we are likely to be able to achieve.

(b) UNHCR have already made clear their reluctance to get involved in non-voluntary repatriation. Although some of the NGOS may be more sympathetic with our aims, they too will be subject to

the sort of political constraints which affect UNHCR's attitude.

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