Minister for Hong Kong Jeremy Hanley flies into Hanoi today to start Britain's last big push to rid the territory of Vietnamese boat people before the handover.
Mr Hanley will seek verbal agreements from Vietnam's Foreign and Interior ministries to dramatically accelerate forced returns in a bid to encourage more volunteers from among the 19,000 boat people in Hong Kong's camps.
Backed by Hong Kong's Refugee Co-ordinator Brian Bresnihan and British Ambassador Peter Williams, Mr Hanley will step up pleas for Hanoi to accept even those it considers non-nationals.
'In terms of securing a trouble-free end to the boat people issue, this is the big one,' said a source close to the talks scheduled for tomorrow.
'Mr Hanley will likely be the last senior British official to visit Vietnam on behalf of Hong Kong before 1997, so any potential hiccups have to be ironed out on this trip.
'Britain will be seeking Vietnam's full co-operation at the highest levels. In terms of face it wants to sort it all out before China takes over.' Mr Hanley's visit has a new urgency following last month's Privy Council ruling criticising the Government and setting free 217 boat people declared 'non-nationals' by Hanoi.
He will continue efforts by Mr Bresnihan to convince Vietnam to accept the 217 and all 7,000 boat people still waiting to be cleared for return by the Interior Ministry.