369
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1629
OF 221545Z JUNE 88
RESTRICTED
НК 243/8
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
AND TO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, HANOI
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA
364
164346 MDLOAN 3366
YOUR TELNO 2377 (NOT TO ALL): VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: PUBLICITY
1. WE OURSELVES HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE BBC EXTERNAL
SERVICE TO ENCOURAGE FULL COVERAGE OF THE NEW POLICY IN ORDER TO
MAXIMISE ITS IMPACT IN VIETNAM. THE RESULTS WERE QUITE GOOD:
THE BBC PUT OUT A NUMBER OF REPORTS AROUND THE TIME OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW POLICY WHICH EMPHASISED THE DETERRENT ASPECTS OF THE NEW MEASURES. WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED WITH THE BB C
THE SCOPE FOR FOLLOW UP REPORTS. THEY HAVE EXPLAINED, HOWEVER, THERE MUST BE FRESH AND NEWSWORTHY ANGLES ON THE STORY IN ORDER
TO JUSTIFY THIS. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NONE.
2.
WE IMAGINE THAT SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS APPLY IN THE CASES
OF VOA AND RADIO AUSTRALIA. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WASHINGTON AND CANBERRA COULD ESTABLISH WHAT COVERAGE THERE HAS BEEN BY VOA
AND RADIO AUSTRALIA RESPECTIVELY AND IF POSSIBLE OBTAIN
TRANSCRIPTS OF THE REPORTS.
3.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE ESTABLISHING WHAT, IF ANY, BROADCASTS THE VIETNAMESE HAVE PUT OUT ABOUT THE NEW POLICY. FROM OUR SOURCES
HERE (BBC MONITORING REPORTS) THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NONE.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD TRY TO CONFIRM THE
POSITION AND TAKE A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE VIETNAMESE
THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO PLAY THEIR PART IN PUBLICISING THE NEW
MEASURES LOCALLY. IF AS THEY CLAIM THEY ARE DISCOURAGING
DEPARTURES THIS WOULD BE A LOGICAL STEP TO TAKE.
HOWE
ILLEGAL
YYYY