CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1551
OF 151005Z MAY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 243 145 CS
Q DIST ?
HIC ATTITUDES
073567
MDHIAN 4822
8
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
ба
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VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: LEGCO DEBATE: CRITICISM OF THE U K
1. ON 17 MAY WE HAVE A LEGCO DEBATE ON THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE. IT IS LIKELY THAT A GOOD DEAL WILL BE SAID ABOUT THE UK AND THE ROLE HMG MIGHT PLAY. THE GENERAL TONE OF THIS IS LIKELY TO BE CRITICAL.
2.
TO PUT HMG'S POSITION ON THE RECORD YOU MIGHT FIND IT USEFUL TO BRIEF NEWS DEPARTMENT HOW TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM HONG KONG JOURNALISTS. SUCH QUESTIONING IS LIKELY IN ANY EVENT. BUT WE COULD ALSO ENCOURAGE SELECTED JOURNALISTS TO RING NEWS DEPARTMENT IF WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN RESPONSE. NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL NEED TO BE PREPARED TO COVER, OR RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON: REPATRIATION, RESETTLEMENT IN THE U K, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOOKING AFTER VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG AND THE GENERAL QUESTION OF HMG'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR/INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG'S POLICY OF MAINTAINING FIRST ASYLUM PLUS SCREENING.
WILSON
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ΜΑΙΝ
32
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
NEWS
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DISTRIBUTION
32
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
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