SECRET É☀Z
Annex C
PUBLICITY PLAN
The publicity package must take into account three distinct targets, each with its own emphasis in the message to be put across.
Vietnam
2.
Perhaps the most important target group is prospective refugees inside Vietnam because unless they receive the correct message about the new policy quickly and clearly the strategy might fail. Unfortunately, this is also one of the hardest groups to reach. We propose to make use of radio broadcasts (e.g. Voice of America, BBC) by suitable briefing of editorial staff, international news agencies, and to attach notes to letters home sent by refugees/detainees in Hong Kong. Those with refugee status will be briefed that future arrivals will not be treated the same so that letters sent home will carry the right message. Use will also be made of suitable local radio programmes which can be picked up at sea, e.g. RTHK programme for fishermen.
3.
The main message to be put across is :
a)
b)
change in policy whereby all Vietnamese boat arrivals will be treated as illegal immigrants. There will be no access to resettlement processing for IIS;
For those with relatives overseas, ODP from Vietnam is the only way out. HK is not a short cut to ODP: you will be detained pending repatriation to Vietnam.
Hong Kong
4.
Within Hong Kong, it should be relatively easy to put across the new policy. In addition to the natural publicity accruing to LegCo proceedings, there will be a full scale press conference chaired by S for S on the afternoon of 15 June (with follow-up press release), with spokesmen also being made available for radio/TV interviews.
G.F. 316
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