CONF IDENTIAL
707
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2197
OF 261130Z AUGUST 88
AND TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
017705
MDHOAN 3134
HKD 243
3/8
ECL
30 AUG 1988
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
N
S
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, PEKING, WASHINGTON, BANGKOK INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR, TOKYO
►
-695
243/3
72)
(NOT TO
HANOI TELNO 296: VIETNAMESE BOAT POPLE IN HONG KONG
1. ON THE FACE OF IT TIN'S REMARKS IN TUR OFFER SOME ENCOURAGEMENT BUT WE HAVE NOTED FROM YOUR TELNO 3154
ALL) THAT UNHCR ARE HAVING DIF ICULTY IN PROCESSING ALL 103
REQUESTS FOR REPATRATION. WE THINK IT MIGHT BE BEST IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO AIM FOR THE RETURN OF A SMALL PILOT BATCH, POSSIBLY COMPRISING THOSE 14 WHOSE DETAILS UNHCR HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, IN ORDER TO GET THE BALL ROLLING QUICKLY. THE VIETNAMESE THEMSELVES MIGHT FIND IT EASIER
AND QUICKER TO PROCESS A SMALL NUMBER. IT WOULD SEEM SENSIBLE TO TRY TO MAKE EARLY PROGRESS, HOWEVER LIMITED, PROVIDED THIS COULD BE PRESENTED PUBLICLY AS THE FIRST STEP WITH MORE TO FOLLOW.
2. TIN CONTINUES TO ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO THE IDEA OF AN EARLY
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS THAT SUCH A VISIT COULD POSE FOR YOU, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROL IN THE CAMPS. BUT IF THIS IS THE PRICE FOR EARLY PROGRESS ON REPATRIATION WE WONDER WHETHER YOU MIGHT DEVISE
ARRANGEMENTS FOR A VISIT ON TERMS WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO
YOU. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE A VISIT WOULD PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE
THAT THE TALKS WITH VIETNAM ARE MAKING PROGRESS, AND THIS COULD BE USED TO UNDERLINE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE NEW POLICY.
MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE FOR A VISIT TO BE OFFERED AS A GENERAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OFFICIALS TO SEE CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG FOR THEMSELVES? PERHAPS THEY MIGHT ALSO MEET THOSE IN THE FIRST
BATCH OF RETURNEES AFTER CAFTER) AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IN
PRINCIPLE ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE BATCH AND THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THEIR RETURN? WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
3. WE ARE COPYING TO HANOI YOUR TELNO 3154, WHICH CONTAINS THE INFORMATION HANOI IS SEEKING FROM YOU HANOI SHOULD PASS THE INFORMATION TO TIN, MAKING IN ADDITION THE POINT THAT THE STEPS
WHICH LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN ASKED TO TAKE TO
CONTROL THE OUTFLOW ARE SO FAR HAVING LITTLE IF ANY EFFECT ON
THE RATE OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG. THIS REMAINS AT A LEVEL WHICH
CAUSES HONG KONG AND OURSELVES ACUTE CONCERN. WE HOPE THE
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CONFIDENTIAL