CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 4971
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2980
OF 09050OZ SEPTEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, CANBERRA, OTTAWA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME TO BE A SUFFICIENT SOLUTION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE UNHCR AND THE OTHER CPA PARTICPANTS
TO DEVELOP THE SCHEME AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE THEREFORE MADE
A CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO COUNSEL THOSE PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND, THROUGH THE CAMP MANAGEMENT TEAMS, TO PROMULGATE THE GENERAL CPA MESSAGE.
2. WE HAVE NOW DECIDED ON A FURTHER INITIATIVE WHICH WE HOPE WILL FACILITATE THE VOLUNTARY SCHEME. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS:
(A) ONCE A PERSON EXPRESSES AN INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING FOR RETURN IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO EFFECT THE MOVE TO THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION CENTRE AT LO WU. THIS LEAVES CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR INTIMIDATION, OR PEER GROUP PRESSURE WITHIN THE CAMP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT VOLUNTEERING BECAUSE THEY FEAR THE CONSEQUENCES. THE DELAYS REFLECT BOTH OUR AND UNHCR'S ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEALING WITH THE APPLICATIONS AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION. WE ARE AIMING TO OPERATE A PROCEDURE WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO MOVE VOLUNTEERS TO LO WU ON THE DAY THEY MAKE THEIR REQUEST.
(B) THE CPA ENVISAGED A JOINT EFFORT BY THE HOST COUNTRY UNHCR AND RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES IN EXPLAINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CPA TO ASYLUM SEEKERS. WE HAVE ASKED THE US, CANADIAN AND AUSTRALIAN CONSULATES TO PROVIDE SPOKESMEN TO VISIT OUR CAMPS TO EXPLAIN TO NON-REFUGEES THAT THEY HAVE NO HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT AND THAT THEY SHOULD THEREFORE VOLUNTEER. WE HAVE IN MIND A TEAM WITH REPRESENTAT- IVES FROM THE HKG AND THE CONSULATES. WE HOPE TO START THE PROGRAMME AT CHI MA WAN ON 12 SEPTEMBER. THE US HAVE AGREED TO TAKE PART AND THE CANADIANS AND THE AUSTRALIANS HAVE RECOMMENDED
TO CAPITALS THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE.
3. WE HAVE ALSO ASKED UNHCR TO TAKE PART IN THE VISIT TO THE CAMPS.
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