CONFIDENTIAL
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025215 MDHIAN 7788
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3854
OF 17103OZ OCTOBER 88
1 1988
TOP COPY
O DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK
98
YOUR TELNO 267T AND PEKING'S TELNO 1681: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: TALKS WITH VIETNAM.
WE SHARE PEKING'S VIEW IN SECOND TUR THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BRIEF THE CHINESE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS. WE SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO ADD TO THE BRIEFING OUR GRATITUDE
OF OUR NEW FOR CHINESE ASSISTANCE IN INFORMING 'COAST HOPPERS'' POLICY IN HONG KONG, AND THE IMPORTANCE WHICH WE ATTACH TO THEIR CONTINUED HELP IN THIS RESPECT AND IN NOT ASSISTING BOAT PEOPLE EN ROUTE TO HONG KONG.
2. WE SHOULD NOT PRESS THE VIETNAMESE AND UNHCR INTO EARLY ACTION ON THE MODALITIES OF REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. WE SHALL BE DISCUSSING WITH EXCO TOMORROW THE IDEA OF A VIETNAMESE VISIT BY QUOTE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL UNQUOTE ON THE LINES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONCESSION WOULD HELP TO GET THINGS MOVING. THE PRACTICAL PURPOSE OF SUCH A VISIT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
IN VIETNAM VIETNAMESE SEE IT AS CLARIFYING THE EVENTUAL DESTINATIONS TO WHICH THOSE RETURNING WISH TO GO, AND POSSIBLY FACILITATING THE ISSUE OF IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS. IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO GIVE
THE THE VIETNAMESE GROUNDS FOR CLAIMING OBSTRUCTION ON OUR PART. TERMS IN PARA 4 OF FIRST TUR SEEM SUITABLY RESTRICTIVE. WE MIGHT SUGGEST ADDITIONALLY THAT ANY VISIT SHOULD BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNHCR, IF THAT WOULD BE MUTUALLY AGREEABLE.
3. SUBJECT TO EXCO'S VIEWS, WE SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD AGREE TO THE VIETNAMESE VISIT AS SOON AS THEY AND UNHCR SHOW SIGNS OF REAL PROGRESS ON ASSISTANCE AND REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS. WE WOULD HOPE THIS WILL EMERGE IN THE MARGINS OF THE BANGKOK CONFERENCE (OUR TELNO 3839).
4. AT THIS STAGE THEREFORE IT WOULD BE BEST NOT TO BE TOO SPECIFIC ABOUT A VIETNAMESE VISIT IN BRIEFING THE CHINESE. IT MIGHT HOWEVER BE HELPFUL TO PREPARE THE GROUND BY SAYING THAT A VISIT MIGHT BE NECESSARY AT SOME STAGE TO CLEARE UP THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF REPATRIATION.
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