TNAG-1969-FCO40-2802-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 93

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It was agreed by both sides that some progress had been made in stemming the outflow and that it was essential to persist in these efforts, and, if necessary, to reinforce them.

COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT

Repatriation

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Discussion of this item took the form of exchanges on the text of a joint press statement. We restated the British position that all post 15 June arrivals who were not refugees should be returned to Vietnam. We strees that under international law, every government had the right to

to decide which aliens could enter its territory. The return of those who were not refugees to their own country was a humane course of action because arrivals who did not meet refugee criteria had ΠΟ

prospect of resettlement. The only options for them were prompt return to Vietnam or indefinite

indefinite detention in Hong Kong awaiting their return to Vietnam. Well publicised arrangements for the prompt

return of those who were not refugees would be the most effective deterrent against further departures.

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The Vietnamese argued that in keeping with their new "humanitarian" policy, they would accept returnees on a voluntary basis only. Vietnam did not want to take back people against their will as this would damage its international image.

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We replied that we naturally hoped that the number who wished to return to Vietnam, now standing at some 350, would greatly increase. But it was unrealistic to imagine that all 9500 boat people in Hong Kong would ask to return. We argued that, whilst both sides had a common interest encouraging as many voluntary returnees as possible, it equally important for the two sides to show readiness in tackling the overall problem. We did not regard the return to their own country of people who were not refugees and who had entered another country illegally as a violation of human rights; their repatriation was standard international practice. Vietnam's image would be enhanced by adherence

this principle.

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However, we accepted that Vietnam could not be expected to take back all non-refugees at once. They would have to be returned in a phased and orderly fashion, perhaps starting with those boat people who had applied for early repatriation to Vietnam.