TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 144

"AGO

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

MONITORING OF THOSE WHO HAVE RETURNED TO VIETNAM

Voluntary Repatriation

1.

Following negotiations during 1988, the Vietnamese Government

agreed during talks in October of that year to accept back those

Vietnamese boat people who asked to return. In a Memorandum of Understanding of 13 December signed with the UNHCR, they agreed

"In the exercise of UNHCR's traditional monitoring functions, SRV

will allow UNHCR full access to the returnees".

A

HKB 243/9-185

Hanoi telno 409 provides details of UNHCR's monitoring activities so

far.

B

Involuntary Repatriation

2.

At the Geneva International Conference in June, the Vietnamese

Foreign Minister restated his Government's opposition to forcible

repatriation of those who did not meet the criteria for refugee

status, but in bilateral meetings with Sir Geoffrey Howe identified

a 'grey area' of people who would not volunteer to return but who

would not actively resist repatriation. It was suggested that we

should agree terms for the repatriation of these people. Officials

from Hong Kong visited Hanoi on 26 June and drew up the text of an

agreement which was subsequently endorsed at a meeting in London

between the Vietnamese Foreign Minister and Sir Geoffrey Howe.

At the express wish of the Vietnamese Government, the contents of

the agreement have not been made in public. The agreement provides

for monitoring arrangements under the following terms:

"When necessary, the Vietnamese side will be prepared to arrange

contacts between representatives of the British Government or the

UNHCR and the repatriates in order to make available information on

their situation".