TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 121

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

Since the turn of the year, an increasing number of volunteers

have come forward and a total of nearly 3000 have returned to

Vietnam. During his visit to Vietnam in February, the Minister of

State, Mr Maude, secured Vietnamese agreement to accept back

volunteers at a rate of around 1,000 a month from May 1990. We

agreed to contribute to the cost of a new reception centre near

Hanoi to enable the Vietnamese authorities to reach this target.

the time of writing, the backlog of volunteers stands at over 1,500.

However the vast majority of these have not been screened. Among

the screened out, the number of volunteers remains small.

Discussions on returning non-volunteers continue with the

Vietnamese.

But

At

In

5. The attitude of the United States continues to be illogical and

unhelpful. At the 1989 Geneva Conference, the United States

delegate stated that "unless and until dramatic improvements occur

in that country's economic, social and political life, the United

States will remain unalterably opposed to the forced repatriation of

Vietnamese asylum seekers." Despite our best efforts and growing

American isolation, the Administration's policy has not altered.

January, they appeared to accept that mandatory repatriation could begin on 1 January 1991 provided certain conditions are met.

even this commitment is in doubt. As a result, there is growing

evidence that first asylum countries are losing faith in the

Comprehensive Plan of Action and a real danger that first asylum

itself will break down. We have made it clear to the United States

Administration that since they and Vietnam alone oppose repatriation

for all those who are not refugees, responsibility for offering a

workable alternative solution now rests with them and the

Vietnamese. As recommended by the Committee (paragraph 5.6), we are pressing the United States to provide accommodation for those

screened out until such time as they are content to accept their

repatriation to Vietnam. We have suggested the use of a United States Pacific Territory for this purpose. Following a meeting in Manila on 17/18 May a demarche was made by HMG and ASEAN first

asylum countries to Vietnamese and US Governments on 11 and 19 June

respectively calling for a solution at the next meeting of the

PTAAPE (2)

CONFIDENTIAL