TNAG-2068-FCO40-2946-Vietnamese-boat-people-and-the-Legislative-and-Executive-Cou-1990 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 12

OF 021033Z JANUARY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

нкв

НКВ 1273/

17

RECEIVED IN

CISTRY

11 JAN1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

RA

REGISTAL 46jgn laken

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

157253

MDHIAN 0971

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: LEGCO QUESTION

ON 10 JANUARY MRS RITA FAN WILL ASK THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE FOLLOWING LEGCO QUESTIONS:

BEGINS

IN VIEW OF THE NUMEROUS REPORTS OR STATEMENTS MADE BY DIFFERENT VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS ON THE SUBJECT OF ORDERLY RETURN OF NON- REFUGEES TO VIETNAM, WILL THE GOVERNMENT ASK HMG TO MAKE PUBLIC THE AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN BE PROPERLY INFORMED, AS THIS IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN?

ENDS

SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE SUGGEST A REPLY ALONG THE LINES QUOTE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY HMG THAT IS IS NOT THE PRACTICE FOR BILATERAL AGREEMENTS OF THIS NATURE TO BE MADE PUBLIC. HOWEVER, THE AGREED ARRANGEMENTS COVER THE REPATRIATION AND REINTEGRATION IN VIETNAM OF BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE NON-REFUGEES, AND WHO HAVE NO PROSPECT OF RESETTLEMENT IN THIRD COUNTRIES. THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE THAT:

(A)

(B)

(C)

THE RETURNEES WILL BE TREATED HUMANELY AFTER THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM, AND WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR LEAVING VIETNAM CLANDESTINELY SEMI COLON

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OR THE UNHCR AND AGENCIES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE RETURNEES AFTER THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM SEMI COLON AND

REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE WILL BE GIVEN TO HELP THE RETURNEES TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THEIR FORMER COMMUNITIES IN VIETNAM.