TNAG-1908-FCO40-2712-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 37

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the wait at Lowu, and the knowledge that volunteering could lead to

a quick move out of the camps and back home, would act as a strong

incentive to many to end the discomfort and uncertainty of life in

Hong Kong. I also believe that a systematic and regular flow would increasingly act as a 'reverse pull factor'. Once the plug is removed from the bath, the water will begin to run out. There will

be some crusty bits round the rim. I'll come on to those later.

(I have also not touched on the subject of increased counselling to

persuade people to volunteer: but this is one aspect we should

consider).

DETERRENTS

12. At the meeting on Tuesday 28 November, the Secretary of State

made the point that even if we were able to send back a few flights

of non-volunteers, we would not be able to achieve a flow sufficient

to deter another influx to Hong Kong next year. For this reason we

are now examining other possible deterrents, including a scheme for

quick screening and turn around of new arrivals. We should not,

however, discount the possible deterrent effect of a regular and

systematic flow back into North Vietnamese villages of 120, and then

250 people a week who have chosen to go back.

THE LACK OF SCREENED OUT VOLUNTEERS

uch of the psychology of our treatment of the

13. I believe that

screened out has be 1 misguided. They have been pampered with

attention and are illy aware that the eyes of the world are on

them. They are very politically aware: they know exactly when and

how to exploit international public attention. I recommend that

after they have been told of the screening decision, they should be

intensively counselled for a limited period, say one week, so that

their future is made absolutely clear to them. And then ignored.

Many might be tempted to join the flow back to Vietnam.

14. We will run out of volunteers at some stage, and reach the

crust on the bath rim. Even UNHCR have admitted privately that

there will be a hard core who will not volunteer.

agreement with the Vietnamese in place (as we now have it) and

Then, with our

GABAAJ (4)

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