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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 03130OZ FCO
TELNO 2155
OF 031045Z JUNE 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
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077041
MDHIAN 1841
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YOUR TELNO 1427: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNHCR REACTION
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1 I AGREE THAT WE CANNOT DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF OPERATION WATCHMAN EVEN FOR A FEW WEEKS LET ALONE UNTIL SEPTEMBER. IN ADDITION TO THE COGENT REASONS IN
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THERE IS IN HONG KONG A VERY WIDE EXPECTATION OF AN IMMINENT CHANGE OF POLICY FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT AND WHAT HE SAID AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE. IF WE HAD TO POSTPONE, WE SHOULD EXPECT MOUNTING POLITICAL PRESSURE AND CRITICISM AND NO REAL POSSIBILITY OF GETTING FINANCIAL APPROVAL FROM LEGCO FOR ALL THE MEASURES NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE DOUBTLESS GROWING NUMBER OF ARRIVALS.
2. I AGREE THAT WE SHALL NEED TO EXPLAIN THE POSITION CAREFULLY TO UNHCR, PRESUMABLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER A MINISTERIAL DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED. DE ALSO CONSIDER ON REFLECTION THAT THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN APPROACHING THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AFTER AMINISTERIAL DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED AND AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS WE REVERT TO UNHCR. WE SHALL GET THE SUPPORT OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS MORE READILY IF WE TAKE THEM INTO OUR
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CONFIDENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEY MAY ALSO GIVE US USEFUL LEVERAGE WITH UNHCR IF AS WE EXPECT, THEY GENERALLY SUPPORT OUR CHANGE OF POLICY I BELIEVE THAT THESE CONSIDERATIONS NOW OUTWEIGHT THE RISK OF A LEAK.
3. THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED WOULD BE THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, WITH THE ADDITION OF JAPAN AS THE OTHER MEMBER OF THE ICG. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY A SUGGESTED OUTLINE OF POINTS TO MAKE IN CAPITALS WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO USE AS THE BASIS OF INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTS. WE WILL TAKE PARALLEL ACTION WITH CONSULAT GENERAL IN HONG KONG.
WILSON
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