TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 157

CONFIDENTIAL

10.

The main arguments for this course are:

a.

NGO projects in the most affected regions of Vietname (Quang Ninh and Haiphong Provinces) would in the medium term make some contribution to improving the quality of life and stemming the outflow;

b. In the eyes of UK public opinion the Government

would be seen to be making a contribution towards the

problem on the ground in Vietnam;

C. The move would respond to NGO pressure for the joint funding scheme to be made available for projects in Vietnam. A scheme not directly related to mandatory repatriation would also be less likely to arouse NGO suspicions.

11.

The main argument against proceeding would be the loss

of a negotiating point for a bilateral arrangement with

Vietnam. But it now seems a lot less likely that a purely bilateral scheme could be put in place, and the NGO part of offer probably would not in itself be especially attractive

to the Vietnamese, who are likely to be more interested in

the progress towards international recognition contained in the other two elements of the package.

12.

Following correspondence between the Secretary of State

and the Chief Secretary, funds for the programme in 1990/91 will have to be found from the existing aid programme.

Next Steps

13.

If Ministers agree, the next steps would be to secure

agreement from the Vietnamese,

or at least no objection,

to open negotiations with the NGOs themselves.

and