TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 72

RESTRICTED

107

131021

HKL

243

75

MDHIAN 6202

RECEIVED

10MS

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

TELNO 30

OF 28081OZ MARCH 90

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, UKMIS GENEVA

(106

YOUR TELNO 33 : VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION

1. UNHCR HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO CANCEL THE FLIGHT PLANNED FOR 3 APRIL. IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE MEDICAL CHECKS IN TIME TO SUBMIT THE REPORTS TO THE VIETNAMESE TWO WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE. THIS VIETNAMESE REQUIREMENT IN PRACTICE MEANS THAT UNHCR/IOM HAVE TO AIM TO COMPLETE ALL OF THEIR MEDICAL CHECKS FOUR WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE.

2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE NOW AGREED TO RELAX THIS REQUIREMENT A LITTLE. THEY WILL ACCEPT THE MEDICAL REPORTS ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE. THIS WILL HELP EASE THE PRESSURE ON THE UNHCR/IOM STAFF HERE BUT THE PROCEDURE COULD BE IMPROVED FURTHER IF THE VIETNAMESE COULD AGREE THAT THE REPORTS SHOULD ARRIVE WITH THE REUTRNEES. THIS WAS THE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE MANDATORY REPATRIATION SCHEME.

3. THE 600 TARGET FOR APRIL AND THE 1000 TARGET FOR MAY ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED. UNHCR ESTIMATE THAT THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO RETURN 360 PEOPLE IN APRIL AND THEIR REVISED TARGET FOR MAY IS 700. THEY HOPE TO REACH THE 1000 TARGET IN JUNE.

WILSON

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

74

ΜΑΙΝ

68

VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION

LIMITED

PS

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR BLATHERWICK

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PAGE

1

RESTRICTED