TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 138

CONFIDENTIAL

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MDHOA 2866

MR MAUDE HOPES AFTER HIS MEETINGS IN KUCHING TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO SOME EXTENT ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES CONCERNED AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT UNHCR IS WILLING TO HELP MAKE THE REGIONAL APPROACH WORK. BOTH THE MALAYSIANS AND THAIS SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A POSSIBLE CHANNEL FOR INTERNATIONAL FUNDING FOR, AND MONITORING OF, RETURNEES. THE VIETNAMESE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY RESIST THIS APPROACH AND SEEK TO INSIST THAT WE STICK TO THE PURELY BILATERAL APPROACH. THEY WILL PROBABLY THEMSELVES SUGGEST A RESUMPTION OF THE RETURN OF ACQUIESCENTS STARTED ON 12 DECEMBER LAST. IF SO, TO HAVE SOUGHT AGREEMENT TO A SECOND FLIGHT WOULD HAVE PLAYED INTO THEIR HANDS.

4

THIS IS AN AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVE WHICH IS UNLIKELY TO BE ACHIEVABLE DURING MR MAUDE'S VISIT ALONE. BUT WE SHOULD AIM TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCH A DEAL AND FIRM UP THE DETAILS IN THE WEEKS TO COME. THE ONLY ADVANTAGE OF THE 1 JULY MORATORIUM IS THAT IT PROVIDES US SOME TIME IN WHICH TO WORK.

5 THE JOKER IN THE PACK IS, OF COURSE, ANOTHER MASSIVE AND UNMANAGEABLE OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM BEFORE THE 1 JULY MORATORIUM RUNS OUT. IN THAT EVENT, WE ENVISAGE CONVENING AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE REGIONAL COUNTRIES CONCERNED TO CONSIDER WHAT ACTION IS URGENTLY NECESSARY. THIS MIGHT INCLUDE A QUICK TURNAROUND SCHEME AND/OR FURTHER RAPID BILATERAL REPATRIATIONS. MR MAUDE WILL NEED TO SPELL THIS OUT TO THE VIETNAMESE DURING THE HANOI TALKS.

HURD

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

122

ΜΑΙΝ

113

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

RMD

LIMITED

PS

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PUSD

ECD (E)

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/MR SAINSBURY

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/PUS

MR P J WESTON

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CONFIDENTIAL