CONFIDENTIAL
2553
MDHIAN 5697
PHYSICALLY OPPOSE THEIR OWN REPATRIATION. IF THIS HAPPENS WE SHOULD HAVE TO ABOURT THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP. THE DECISION TO ABORT OR TO GO AHEAD WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE MADE ON THE DAY PLANNED FOR DEPARTURE AND WE SHOULD PREFER TO TAKE THIS DECISION WITHOUT FURTHER PRESSURE OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO MOUNT THE OPERATION WE SHOULD THEN PREFER TO ABANDON IT AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE AND REVERT TO A SLOWER TIMETABLE FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION. FOR THESE REASONS WE BELIEVE THAT, IF ANY BRIEFINGS TAKE PLACE, WE SHOULD AVOID ALL COMMENT ON THE DETAILS (INCLUDING TIMING) OF THE OPERATION.
5. THE TIMETABLE SET OUT IN SECOND TUR MAY PROVE TO BE TOO AMBITIOUS THE MAIN POTENTIAL FOR DELAYS WILL BE THE UNHCR'S COUNSELLING WORK AND VIETNAMESE CLEARANCE OF THE 114 NAMES. WE SHALL BE READY TO MAKE THE SELECTION OF THE TARGET GROUP OF 20-40 PEOPLE BY 18 AUGUST AND ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE READY TO SEPARATE THIS GROUP FOR FURTHER COUNSELLING DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING 21 AUGUST. THIS SUGGESTS A DEPARTURE DATE LATE IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 21 AUGUST OR THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
6. WE SHALL WARN YOU WELL IN ADVANCE BOTH OF THE TIMING OF ANY
OPERATION AND THE DETAIL OF HOW WE PROPOSE TO MOUNT IT.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
109
DISTRIBUTION
- 116
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
NAD
NEWS
INFO D
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL