TNAG-2062-FCO40-2940-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 108

CONFIDENTIAL

32)

010573

MDLIAN 9871

HK B

24315

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

30 JAN1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

JA

REGISTRY

TOP COPY Q DIST?

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 164

OF 12104OZ JANUARY 90

INFO PRIORITY HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

?

YOUR TELNO 83: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: 1990 STRATEGY

1. WE HAVE REVISED THE EXCO PAPER IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR COMMENTS, AND WILL FAX YOU A COPY. WE INTEND TO ISSUE THE PAPER NEXT WEEK FOR DISCUSSION ON 23 JANUARY, WHICH WILL ALLOW US ALSO TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO.

2. IN THE LIGHT OF UKMIS GENEVA'S REPORT ON THE INITIAL UNHCR REACTION TO THE QUICK TURNAROUND SCHEME (UKMIS TELNO 7), WE HAVE CONCLUDED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE NEED TO SHORTEN THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF APPEAL FROM 28 DAYS SHOULD BE REVIEWED ONCE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE REGULAR REPATRIATION OF NEW ARRIVALS ARE IN PLACE AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE NUMBER OF NEW ARRIVALS AS WE MOVE INTO THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER.

3. WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED THE PRPC IN THE PAPER. IT IS ALREADY LONG, AND WE FEEL IT NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE STRATEGY TO DETER NEW ARRIVALS. THE PRPC, WHILE WELCOME AS BRINGING SOME RELIEF IN ACCOMMODATION AND STAFFING PROBLEMS, IS NOT IN ANY SENSE A DETERRENT. THE MATTER MAY OF COURSE WELL COME UP IN DISCUSSION.

4.

WE HAVE ALSO IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT DECISION THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RAISE WITH THE CHINESE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SOUTH CHINA HOLDING CENTRE, TAKEN OUT ALL REFERENCE TO IT. AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS MAY COME UP IN DISCUSSION.

FORD

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