TNAG-1908-FCO40-2712-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 137

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CAPACITIES RANGE FROM 500 TO 1000 PEOPLE AND THE PRICE WOULD BE IN THE RANGE STERLING 3-4 MILLION. A LEASING ARRANGEMENT WOULD ALSO BE A POSSIBILITY AND WE MIGHT PREFER THIS, AT LEAST IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. CREWING AND MAINTENANCE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD PRESENT NO DIFFICULTIES.

4. THE ATTRACTIONS OF SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT ARE THAT IT WOULD ENABLE US TO MAINTAIN FIRST ASYLUM AND TO OPERATE QUOTE STATUS DETERMINATION PROCEDURES UNQUOTE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CPA. THERE MIGHT BE IMPLICATIONS FOR KEEPING UNHCR ON-SIDE BUT WE WOULD HOPE THAT UNHCR WOULD RAISE NO FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIONS SO LONG AS WE REMAIN WITHIN THE CPA FRAMEWORK. BY FOCUSSING OUR EFFORT ON NEW ARRIVALS RATHER THAN THOSE ALREADY IN THE CAMPS, WE WOULD HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DETERRENT MESSAGE MORE IMMEDIATE AND THUS MORE

EFFECTIVE.

5. SEEN FROM HERE, THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO BE OVERCOME IS LIKELY TO BE

WHETHER THE VIETNAMESE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT LARGE NUMBERS OF

RETURNEES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WITHOUT ELABORATE PROCEDURES FOR

PRIOR NOTIFICATION OF WHO IS BEING RETURNED (WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WE SIMPLY PASS OVER A NAME LIST ON THE MORNING OF

RETURN). IF SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT IS TO OPERATE IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL THAT THE VIETNAMESE BE ASKED TO PREPARE NEW LARGE SCALE RECEPTION CAPACITY. THE SMALL VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME HAS REPEATEDLY RUN UP

AGAINST THE PROBLEM OF LACK OF RECEPTION FACILITIES. THE VIETNAMESE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY ASK FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH THIS. YOU MAY THINK THAT THE STERLING 5 MILLION EARMARKED FOR THE PHILIPPINES RPC MIGHT BE BETTER USED ON RECEPTION FACILITIES IN VIETNAM. THE JAPANESE MIGHT ALSO BE PREPARED TO HELP.

6. IF WE FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED ABOVE, INTERDICTION WOULD TAKE PLACE, AS IT DOES NOW, INSIDE HONG KONG WATERS (THE U.S. SCREENING OF HAITIANS TAKES PLACE JUST OUTSIDE HAITIAN WATERS. WE

SEE NO USEFUL PARALLEL HERE FOR OUR PROCEDURES FOR SCREENING VBP:

THE POLITICAL AND LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS OF SCREENING OPERATIONS BEING

CONDUCTED ANYWHERE NEAR THE COAST OF VIETNAM SEEM TO US TO BE OVER RIDING). THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION OF PUSHING BOATS AWAY. THE

OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO SCREEN PEOPLE QUICKLY AND RETURN THEM TO

VIETNAM WITHIN A WEEK OR SO OF ARRIVAL.

7. WE HAVE YET TO COMPLETE OUR THINKING ON THIS APPROACH BUT AT THIS EARLY STAGE WE THINK IT LOOKS PROMISING. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PLANNING AND LET YOU HAVE A FULL ASSESSMENT AND

FIRM PROPOSALS.

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