CONFIDENTIAL
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031650 MDHIAN 0174
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 303
OF 27113OZ JANUARY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
Q DIST ?
31
HANOI TELNO 48 AND 49: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN UK AND VIETNAM
AND
1. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT PARAGRAPHS 1(B) AND 2(D) OF THE VIETNAMESE DRAFT (FIRST TUR) SHOULD BE REJECTED. THEY SUGGEST THE INSERTION OF A SELECTION SYSTEM BY THE VIETNAMESE, WHICH WOULD APPEAR TO RUN COUNTER TO THE PROVISION IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ANNEX TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNHCR AND THE VIETNAMESE, ALSO TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS AGREED WITH THE VIETNAMESE
DELEGATION AT THE LONDON TALKS LAST SEPTEMBER. THIS APPARENT BACKSLIDING BY THE VIETNAMESE JUSTIFIES THE UNHCR'S CONCERN (PARAGRAPH 2 OF UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 761 OF 22 DECEMBER 1988). WE MUST
STICK TO THE POSITION THAT APPROVAL FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS GRANTED IN HANOI, AND THAT THE TASK OF THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WHO COME TO HONG KONG IS SIMPLY TO ISSUE ENTRY CERTIFICATES ONCE IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND TO RECORD DETAILS OF FORMER RESIDENCE IN VIETNAM.
2 =
WE WOULD THEREFORE PREFER TO RETAIN THE WHOLE OF PARAGRAPHS 2(B) AND 3(D) IN HANOI TELNO 482 OF 30 DECEMBER. IF HOWEVER THE
DELETION OF THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARA 2(B) WOULD HELP TO SECURE THE
REST OF THESE PARAGRAPHS WE COULD LIVE WITH THAT.
3. UNHCR HAS INFORMED US THAT THE ICM WILL ARRANGE MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR THE RETURNEES BEFORE DEPARTURE. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 2(G) OF THE DRAFT MOU BE AMENDED TO READ QUOTE THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WILL ENSURE THAT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS ARE ARRANGED FOR ALL RETURNEES BEFORE DEPARTURE AND THAT ALL RETURNEES HOLD VALID HEALTH CERTIFICATES UNQUOTE.
WILSON
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