TNAG-1972-FCO40-2805-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 121

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174

MDHIAN 1560

NON-VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT BY OTHERS. ICM WAS BEST PLACED TO DO THIS. VIEIRA DE MELLO (PLEASE CAREFULLY PROTECT) TOLD US, HOWEVER, THAT HOCKE MIGHT TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW, WISHING TO INVOLVE UNHCR THROUGHOUT ON THE BASIS THAT ALL VBPS (WHETHER SCREENED IN OR OUT) WERE OF CONCERN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. IN VIEIRA DE MELLO'S VIEW, THIS WOULD MERELY COMPLICATE EVENTUAL REPATRIATION FOR ALL THE SCREENED-OUT AND UNHCR SHOULD STAY CLEAR OF THE NON-VOLUNTARY ASPECTS.

COMMENT

4. METHODS OF HANDLING THE SCREENED-OUT ARE EVOLVING AMONG ASEAN, BUT THE PACE IS SLOW. WE SHOULD LEAVE THE INITIATIVE WITH ASEAN, WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE FOR THE SCREENED-OUT MIGHT HELP ALLEVIATE HONG KONG'S SERIOUS

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS.

5. ICM INTEREST IS HELPFUL, AS IS VIEIRA DE MELLO'S REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF UNHCR'S ROLE. WE CAN USE EXCOM AND TIGHT FINANCIAL CONTROL OVER UNHCR OPERATIONS TO KEEP THE CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN

REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR WHOM

REPATRIATION IS ONLY SOLUTION.

SANKEY

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

96

DISTRIBUTION

102

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PUSD

ECD (E)

FED

NAD

NEWS

PS

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR PATTEN ODA

PS MR EGGAR

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR MCLAREN

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