CONFIDENTIAL
#D 243/15 (24
177126
MDHIAN 6814
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3747
OF 07114OZ OCTOBER 88
(26
PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, AUSS FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 2561: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1
·
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
I AM SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT REPLIED EARLIER TO TUR. THE POINTS ON REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN PICKED UP IN THE NORMAL
SERIES OF TELEGRAMS WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN APPROVED BY ME.
2. TO CONFIRM THE POSITION, I AM IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE
APPROACH IN PARA 6 OF TUR. BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST RETAIN A
DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY. THE KEY POINT IS TO ACHIEVE THE RETURN OF
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST ONES
ARE BOUND TO BE VOLUNTEERS.
3. WE HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO BE SEEN TO
BE CONTRIBUTING REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE
READILY VOLUNTEERING TO RETURN TO VIETNAM AND BEFORE THE PROCESS
HAS ACTUALLY BEGUN. BUT I SEE NO OBJECTION TO
·
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDING LIMITED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE RETURNING. IF AS NOW SEEMS POSSIBLE, UNHCR ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FROM THEIR OWN RESOURCES AGAIN I SEE NO
OBJECTION IF THIS IS WHAT IS REQUIRED TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
26
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
26
SEAD
MR MCLAREN
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CONFIDENTIAL