CONFIDENTIAL
104
120602
MDLIAN 9108
HK B 2+315
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1026
OF 24050OZ MARCH 90
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, WASHINGTON
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
■
1 A TEAM OF VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS ARE CURRENTLY IN HONG KONG WITH AUTHORITY TO INTERVIEW UP TO 900 VOLUNTEERS AND TO CLEAR THEM FOR RETURN. THEIR FIRST TARGET IS THE GROUP OF 400 COUT OF A POPULATION OF 600) AT LO WU WHO HAVE YET TO BE CLEARED.
2. IN ORDER TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEED THE RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO OPEN A SECOND CAMP FOR VOLUNTEERS. THE PRESENT POPULATION OF THE CAPE COLLINSON DETENTION CENTRE WILL BE MOVED TO WHITEHEAD ON 26 MARCH, UP TO 600 VOLUNTEERS WILL THEN BE MOVED TO CAPE COLLINSON ON 27 AND 28 MARCH. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO ALLOW THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS TO INTERVIEW ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.
3. ONCE THESE MOVES HAVE BEEN MADE, MORE THAN 60 PER CENT OF THOSE WITH EXTANT APPLICATIONS FOR REPATRIATION WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE TWO SPECIAL CAMPS FOR VOLUNTEERS. IF THE EXPANSION OF THE VOLUNTARY FROGRAMME TAKES PLACE AS PLANNED DURING APRIL AND MAY, WE SHOULD SOON BE IN A POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE ALL VOLUNTEERS IN THESE CAMPS. THIS SHOULD FACILITATE THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME BY REMOVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEER PRESSURE TO WITHDRAW APPLICATIONS, AND BY MAKING IT EASIER TO COMPLETE THE PRE-DEPARTURE FORMALITIES.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
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113
DISTRIBUTION
123
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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