TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 157

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

OF 071015Z AUGUST 89

TELNO 2647

INFO PRIORITY HANOI

(165)

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Mk Fi

243/9

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

188

006135 MOLIAN 1509

YOUR TELNO 258 TO HANOI: VBP: REPATRIATION MONITORING.

WE ASSUME THAT THE ROLE OF A HONG KONG OFFICER SECONDED TO HANOI

WOULD BE:

(A) TO DEAL WITH THE MECHANICS OF REPATRIATION UNDER BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE VIETNAMESE, THAT IS, TO AGREE LISTS OF RETURNEES WITH THE VIETNAMESE, AND TO MAKE LOGISTICAL AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: AND

(B) SUBSEQUENT MONITORING OF RETURNEES IN VIETNAM.

2. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POST-APPEAL CASES IS NOW ABOUT ONE THOUSAND,

AND WE EXPECT THE NUMBER TO INCREASE AT THE RATE OF AT LEAST ONE

THOUSAND PER MONTH FROM NOW ON. THE RATE OF REPATRIATION IS MUCH MORE

DIFFICULT TO PREDICT. THE NUMBERS ARE BOUND TO BE VERY SMALL UNLESS AND UNTIL TRULY COMPULSORY REPATRIATION IS INSTITUTED. EVEN THEN, THE

RATE AT WHICH VIETNAM IS ABLE AND WILLING TO ACCEPT RETURNEES IS

LIKELY TO BE THE LIMITING FACTOR.

3. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE. HE IS A RECENTLY RETIRED

EXPATRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OFFICER, WHO HAS THE MATURITY AND EXPERIENCE TO DO THE JOB WELL. HE IS AT PRESENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND, IF HE WERE TO BE APPOINTED, HE WOULD PROBABLY NEED A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE LEAVING. WE WOULD ALSO

WISH HIM TO COME TO HONG KONG FIRST FOR A WEEK OR SO FOR BRIEFING

AND FAMILIARISATION BEFORE GOING TO HANOI.

4. WE SUGGEST THAT, IF WE ARE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SECONMENT OF A HONG KONG OFFICER TO HANOI, WE SHOULD PLAN ON A SECONDMENT OF SIX MONTHS INITIALLY. WE WOULD BE WILLING TO MEET FULL SALARY COSTS BUT SUGGEST THAT HMG SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATION, ALLOWANCES, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND OTHER EXPENSES IN HANOI.

FORD

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CONFIDENTIAL