CABINET: 14 DECEMBER
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
22
HKB 040 19 04019
The first group of 51 non-voluntary boat people were returned to
Vietnam on 12 December The operation went smoothly. No force was
used.
Vietnamese entirely cooperative.
- The Secretary of State informed US Secretary Baker of our
decision when he saw him on 11 December. Baker maintained US
opposition to non-voluntary repatriation.
-
Predictable criticism in Parliament and the media and from the US.
- Lord Ennals and Mr Raison will go to Vietnam next month to monitor the returned group.
- HMA Hanoi instructed to approach the Vietnamese to seek views on
the way forward to continue the process of non-voluntary return.
-
Demonstration against repatriation in some Hong Kong camps.
-
Dates of 18 and 19 January agreed for the resumed meeting of the
Steering Committee of the Geneva Conference on Refugees.
PEPAAD