Y
en
CONFIDENTIAL
4KTK 243/3
ECEIVED
REGISTRY
13 NOV 1986
ICER
melly
OCMIAN 5658
CONFIDENTIAL
RR HANOI
RR BANGK
FM FCOLN TO GEMIS
101700Z NOV
GRS 229
C
75658 1
-
Alitte
bash
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO 400
OF 10170OZ NOVEMBER 86
AND TO ROUTINE HANOI
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, HONG KONG, WASHINGTON
Пр
YOUR TELNO 585: ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME (ODP)
RA < "Mery Ships
VR. Gened pek
1. THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT AND THE TEXT OF YOUR INTERVENTION.
YOU SPOKE WELL.
2. THE VIETNAMESE RESPONSE TO THE MEETING IS DISAPPOINTING AND A
CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO DEAL WITH THEM ON
REFUGEE ISSUES. GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD KEEP UP THE PRESSURE IN
THEIR BILATERAL CONTACTS WITH THE VIETNAMESE.
3.
OUR OPPOSITION TO THE OPERATION OF 'MERCY SHIPS' (PARA 4 OF
TUR) IS CLEARLY STATED. MRS CHALKER IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION FROM MR KEITH BEST, MP ON 7 NOVEMBER MADE
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: QUOTE SUCH 'MERCY SHIPS', THOUGH WELL
INTENTIONED, EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM, ENCOURAGING MORE VIETNAMESE TO RISK THEIR LIVES BY SETTING OUT IN UNSEAWORTHY CRAFT WITH NO
GUARANTEE OF MAKING CONTACT. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MORE
EFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM, SUCH AS THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE
PROGRAMME AND THE RESCUE AT SEA RESETTLEMENT OFFERS PROGRAMME.
UNQUOTE. GRATEFUL IF HANOI WOULD TAKE AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO
PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THIS.
HOWE
MINIMAL
SEAD
UND
HED
1
CONFIDENTIAL
CORES TO
MR WYETH BRU
MRSELLER EAD
Mr Mc Donell
HIOFFICE
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