SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2238
OF 091007Z JUNE 88
SECRET
TOP COPY
DIST 7
них 243/8
2663
117230
MDHIAN 2650
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : OPERATION WATCHMAN : BRIEFING OF BBC
EXERTNAL SERVICES
AS YOU KNOW, ONE IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR PUBLICITY PLAN IS TO GET THE MESSAGE ABOUT OUR CHANGE IN POLICY ACROSS TO PEOPLE IN VIETNAM.
2. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ARRANGE FOR BBC EXTERNAL
SERVICES TO BE BRIEFED (IF NECESSARY ON AN EMBARGOED BASIS) SO THAT
THE NEWS CAN BE BROADCAST ON THEIR VIETNAMESE AND CHINESE SERVICES
STARTING FROM THE EVENING OF 15 JUNE (HONG KONG TIME). WE SHOULD
TRY TO GET AS MUCH EMPHASIS AS POSSIBLE ON THE RESTRICTIVE NATURE
OF THE NEW POLICY AND PLAY DOWN THE ELEMENT OF ALLOWING RESETTLEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENUINE REFUGEES.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
48
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
48
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN