TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 128

CONFIDENTIAL

131561

MDHIAN 6415

MKB

24315

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

TOP COPY

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1 MAR 1990

Q DIST?

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 532

OF 12104OZ FEBRUARY 90

DESI

IND!

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

/?

HANOI TELNO 074:

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

REPATRIATION

WE AGREE WITH HANOI'S ASSESSMENT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE GAINED FROM PUTTING A PROPOSAL TO THE VIETNAMESE, IN ADVANCE OF MR MAUDE'S VISIT, FOR THE RETURN OF A SECOND GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS EVEN THOUGH THE CHANCES OF THEM AGREEING MUST BE VERY SLIM. IT WOULD GIVE THE VIETNAMESE A CLEAR INDICATION THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROCEEDING WITH THE REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AND FLUSH OUT SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS.

2. IN SELECTING THE NEXT GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS WE WILL CONCENTRATE ON RECENT ARRIVALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING SCREENING AT THE GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE. THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE COMPLIANT THAN ANY GROUP WE MIGHT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE FROM CHI MA WAN. A LIST OF ABOUT 100 NAMES WILL NOW BE PREPARED, WITH THE USUAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, AND WE WILL AIM TO GET IT TO HANOI WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. WHEN ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR SUCCESSFUL APPEALS CALL OF THE PEOPLE ON THE LIST HAVE APPEALS PENDING), UNHCR MANDATE CASES AND THOSE WHO MIGHT DECIDE TO VOLUNTEER, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELECT A FINAL GROUP OF ABOUT 50 60 PEOPLE.

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3. THERE WOULD OF COURSE BE QUITE A FEW OPERATIONAL DETAILS TO BE SETTLED BUT AT THIS STAGE OUR PURPOSE IS SIMPLY TO FORMULATE A CREDIBLE PROPOSITION TO PUT TO THE VIETNAMESE. ON TIMING, WE SUGGEST THE WEEK BEGINNING 19 MARCH. THIS SHOULD ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR APPEALS TO BE CONCLUDED, FOR UNHCR TO COMPLETE ITS MANDATE ASSESSMENT AND VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION COUNSELLING, AND FOR THE VIETNAMESE TO CLEAR THE NAMES FOR RETURN.

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4 THERE IS STILL A QUESTION MARK OVER THE AVAILABILITY OF AIRCRAFT FOR A SECOND REPATRIATION FLIGHT. ALTHOUGH DRAGONAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD, IN PRINCIPLE, BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE AN AIRCRAFT, THE SUBSEQUENT LINK UP WITH CATHAY PACIFIC MIGHT HAVE CHANGED THEIR ATTITUDE. WE WILL NOW TALK TO THEM AGAIN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FLIGHT IN MID MARCH. FAILING THAT WE

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