TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 44

MELAAR

1.

I think this idea has a number of attractions as

our strategy for the next 2 months:

an element in

-

it would enable us to claim at the October Steering Committee meeting that we have seriously tried to make voluntary

2.

repatriation work in accordance with the CPA;

-

it would help to disarm American suspicions that we have never given voluntary repatriation a chance and would strengthen our hand when the Secretary of State goes to Washington.

it would put the onus on the UNHCR (who claim that the number of volunteers has significantly increased) to deliver the goods at a time when the Americans seem willing to cooperate in

putting pressure on the UNHCR to get the voluntary programme to

work;

- it would help us to hold the line in Hong Kong during the difficult period between now and the October Steering Committee meeting; and

it would have presentational advantages at a later stage when

we have to justify mandatory repatriation.

If Ministers agree with this tactic, we would need to move ahead quickly. Ideally the approach to Hocke ought to coincide with the Secretary of State's visit to Washington.

31 August 1989

Rosalind Mar

R Marsden