TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 92

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

TELNO 009

OF 160130Z MARCH 90

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, HANOI

HKB

243/12

RECEIVED IN RECISTRY

* MAR 1990

071007

MDHIAN 1560

UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 201: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: STOLTENBERG'S

PROPOSALS

1. WE WERE CONCERNED TO SEE THE REFERENCE IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF TUR TO THE REPATRIATION OF QUOTE THOSE WHO DID NOT OBJECT TO RETURN UNQUOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE AVOID GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT ACQUIESCENT NON-VOLUNTEERS. MANDATORY REPATRIATION WILL NOT BE A PRACTICAL PROPOSITION UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE NORMAL PROCEDURES FOR THE REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THIS MEANS THE RETURN TO VIETNAM OF ALL THOSE SCREENED-OUT, WHETHER

THEY OBJECT OR NOT.

2. VIEIRA DE MELLO'S CONFIDENCE IN MEETING AND MAINTAINING THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION TARGETS IS SURPRISING. THERE ARE TWO MAIN

OBSTACLES :

(I) THE LOCAL OFFICE OF UNHCR INFORMS US THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE NOT CLEARING THE VOLUNTEERS FOR RETURN QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ALLOW THEM TO REACH THE 1000 TARGET FOR MAY. WE SHALL BE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY WITH OUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THE PRESENT PROCEDURE MIGHT BE IMPROVED.

(II) THERE ARE AT PRESENT A TOTAL OF 1600 EXTANT REQUESTS FOR REPATRIATION. OUR ESTIMATE IS THAT ONLY ABOUT 1000 OF THESE ARE GENUINE AND THAT THE REST HAVE EITHER WITHDRAWN OR WILL DO SO BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE NET NUMBER OF NEW REQUESTS IS RUNNING AT

ABOUT 300 EACH MONTH.

3. WE ALSO STILL DO NOT BELIEVE THAT UNHCR ARE MAKING SUFFICIENT EFFORT LOCALLY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER, DESPITE CONSTANT PRODDING BY US. WE SHALL BE TAKING UP THESE ISSUES WITH VIEIRA DE MELLO DURING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG LATER THIS MONTH.

WILSON

1

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CONFIDENTIAL