TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 200

At Model D

SECRET

173361

MDHIAN 7256

WORST OF ALL WORLDS. IT IS WORTH NOTHING THAT OUR NORMAL REPATRIATION PROCEDURES ARE ENTIRELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE FOR RETURNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

5. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE BELIEVE THAT THE TIMETABLE SHOULD BE AS FOLLOWS:

(A) THE AGREED MINUTE WITH THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD BE SIGNED

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PREFERABLY BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE QUOTE SIGNED UP UNQUOTE BEFORE SC3:

(B)

WE WOULD AIM TO GIVE THE VIETNAMESE DURING THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER THE NECESSARY TWO WEEKS' NOTICE THEY HAVE REQUESTED FOR THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP. WE WOULD THUS BE FIXING A DATE IN PRINCIPLE, TO BE CONFIRMED AFTER SC3.

(C) WE RECOMMEND AGAINST ANY BRIEFINGS PRIOR TO THE OPERATION. THIS MEANS THAT WE WOULD GIVE NO DETAILS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAME, NOR THE TIMING OF THE OPERATION, AT SC3. WE WOULD TAKE THE LINE THAT WE HAD AGREED IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON THE MECHANICS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ORDERLY RETURN: WE HAD YET TO TAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHEN THESE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

(D) IN TERMS OF PLANNING FOR THE FIRST REPATRIATION OPERATION, WE WOULD AIM TO MOVE A FURTHER GROUP OF FINALLY SCREENED- OUT NON-VOLUNTEERS TO PHOENIX HOUSE BY 9 OCTOBER. THIS ADDITIONAL GROUP WOULD COMPRISE ABOUT 20-25 PEOPLE, ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR RETURN BY THE VIETNAMESE. THIS WOULD BRING THE TOTAL AT PHOENIX HOUSE TO 40-45. AN AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN BOOKED FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING 22 OCTOBER AND WE HAVE CLEARED OUR LINES ON SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE AIRLINE.

(E) WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE COUPING TO THE VIETNAMESE A FEW BOWS BEFORE THE FIRST QUESTION THAT REPATRIATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES.

(F) TO MAXIMISE THE CHANCES OF THE SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD NOT INVITE AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO MONITOR THE DEPARTURE OPERATION.

PAGE

SECRET

3