TNAG-2401-FCO40-3488-Vietnamese-migrants-Orderly-Repatriation-Programme-(ORP)-1992 — Page 153

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003152 MDLIAN 2563

EXCO'S AGREEMENT ON 24 MARCH, WE INTEND NOW TO TAKE INFORMAL SOUNDINGS IN LEGCO ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF A LIMITED PACKAGE GETTING APPROVED BY FC IN ORDER TO GET ORP II GOING. THESE INITIAL SOUNDINGS WILL PROBABLY BE BASED ON A PACKAGE WORTH ABOUT

HKD 10 MILLION.

7. SUBJECT TO OUR SOUNDINGS AND HMA/HANOI'S STUDIES, WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE IN A POSITION TO CONSIDER IN LATE APRIL WHETHER WE CAN MAKE AN APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE TO BEGIN ORP II IN RETURN

FOR A HKG COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE LIMITED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO KEY AREAS. IF THE IDEA LOOKED LIKE BEING A RUNNER IN LEGCO TERMS, OUR AIM WOULD BE FOR HMA HANOI TO PRESS FOR VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT TO A CONTINUING ORP II SCHEME, OR (FAILING THAT) TO AS MANY FLIGHTS AS HE CAN SECURE ADVANCE VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT TO (E.G. ONE PER MONTH FOR THE REST OF 1992). WE RECOGNISE THAT HKD 10 MILLION MAY WELL NOT/NOT DO THE TRICK FOR THE WHOLE ORP II AGREEMENT. BUT IT WOULD AT LEAST OPEN THE DOOR.

GRATEFUL FOR VIEWS.

8.

WILSON

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