RESTRICTED
FM HANOI
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 218
OF 16053OZ JUNE 88
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
нио 24318
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OUR TELNO 216 OF 15 JU AND BANGKOK'S
TO
337
142152
MDLIAN 5665
TELNO 373 OF 15 JUNE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
CHANGE OF POLICY
1. YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I CALLED ON HOANG QUOC TIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT. I SPOKE ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS AND
LEFT COPY OF SPEAKING NOTE. TIN SPOKE ALONG SAME LINES AS VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND HEAD OF EUROPE II.
2. SPECIFICALLY IN THANKED ME FOR BREIFING AND SAID THAT HIGHER AUTHORITIES WOULD CONSIDER THE NEW POLICY. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE BOUND TO BE DIFFICULTIES AND IN RESPONDING TO
HONG KONG'S NEW POLICY VIETNAM WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER
CONSEQUENCES FOR SITUATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF FIRST
A SYLUM. HE STRESSED THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WISH TO STOP
ILLEGAL DEPARTURES AND HAD TAKEN STEPS WITH LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES TO REDUCE FLOW. HE ADDED THAT VIETNAM WISHED TO SPEED UP ODP BUT MADE THE INEVITABLE DIG AT THE TARDINESS OF THE USA. HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME CASES OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AND THAT SUCH CASES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE JUDGED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL MERITS.
PARTRIDGE
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HKD
SEAD
UND
41
DISTRIBUTION
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PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
PS
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