TNAG-1969-FCO40-2802-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 3

MEASURES TAKEN IN VIETNAM TO STOP CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES

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The Vietnamese briefed the UK/HK delegation on action taken by the Vietnamese Government to stop clandestine boat departures. This included the following:

8

(a)

instructions strengthen

departures;

to their

local authorities measures against such

to

(b) publicising the documents that we had supplied in August, providing information of Hong Kong's new policy;

(c)

stepping up the prosecution of the organisers of illegal departures (but not taking action against those who had made the "mistake" of leaving);

(d) doing their best to accelerate the Orderly

Departure Programme;

(e) reaching agreement

(£)

with Malaysia on repatriation and discussing

discussing practical issues with UNHCR for the return of those who had volunteered to go back; and

forming an organisation to receive returnees.

The Vietnamese maintained that they were determined to stop illegal departures and that the action they had taken was proof of their serious intention to resolve the problem.

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We informed the Vietnamese of various measures taken by HKG to publicise the new policy in Hong Kong

(a)

(b)

(c)

-

efforts since the introduction of the new policy on 16 June to ensure that radio transmissions in the region, such as the BBC's External Services, Voice of America, and Radio Australia, accurately portrayed our new policy;

with effect from 1 October, Radio HK's messages in Vietnamese explaining our policy; and

new

the insertion of leaflets explaining our policy in all letters from the boat people in Hong Kong to their relatives

relatives and

and friends in Vietnam