CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 241300Z FCO
TELNO 2467
OF 24120OZ JULY 89
INFO DESKBY 24130OZ BANGKOK
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
قسم
D
147071 MDHIAN 4378
BANGKOK PLEASE PASS TO BARNES, (SECRETARY FOR SECURITY) VISITING
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. WE HAVE BEEN REASSESSING THE TIMETABLE FOR THE FIRST REPATRIATION
EXERCISE IN THE LIGHT OF :-
W
(A) THE BREAKING OF THE STORY IN THE MEDIA:
(B) THE REACTION OF THE FIRST GROUP TO THE NEWS THAT THEY ARE TO BE RETURNED TO VIETNAM:
(C) THE CONTINUING LACK OF AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE OVER THE
LEVEL OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE: AND
(D) THE CONSEQUENT FAILURE TO MEET THE ORIGINAL TARGET FATE OF 17 JULY.
2. MEDIA INTEREST, WHICH HAS INTENSIFIED OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF HELLA PICK'S STORY IN THE GUARDIAN
HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HANDLE THE FIRST GROUP OF RETURNEES ACCORDING TO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN. IT HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN OUR INTENTION TO INFORM THE FIRST GROUP OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM ONCE WE HAD THE AGREEMENT OF THE VIETNAMESE TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP AND A DEPARTURE DATE. THE GROUP BECAME AWARE OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH RADIO AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE UNDER PRISON RULES TO DEPRIVE THEM OF ACCESS TO NEWSPAPERS ETC. IN THESE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES WE DECIDED WE SHOULD INFORM THEM BEFORE FIRM ARRANGEMENTS WERE IN PLACE. WE EMPHASISED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS NOW NO HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT: THAT THEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR LIVES AGAIN IN VIETNAM, RATHER THAN REMAINING INDEFINITELY IN DETENTION IN HONG KONG: THAT THEY WOULD BE GIVEN FINANCIAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO DO DO: THAT WE HAD OBTAINED ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AS TO THEIR TREATMENT: AND THAT THEIR CONDITION AFTER RETURN COULD BE MONITORED
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