CONFIDENTIAL
NICB
24319
(160
152106 MDHIAN 4527
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 26090OZ FCO
TELNO 2499
OF 25121OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, HANOI
TOP COPY Q DIST?
OUR TELNO 2467 AND YOUR TELNO 1562:
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
REPATRIATION
1.
WE ARE OF COURSE KEEN TO PROCEED WITH RETURN OF A FIRST GROUP AS SOON AS WE REALISTICALLY CAN, ACCEPT THAT A POSTPONEMENT CARRIES WITH IT THE DANGER THAT WE WILL LOSE SOME OF THE MOMENTUM BUILT UP DURING RECENT TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE. HOWEVER, FOR THE REASONS IDENTIFIED IN OUR TUR IT HAS PROVED TO BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN WE EXPECTED TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO ALTHOUGH NOT PREPARED TO VOLUNTEER FOR REPATRIATION WOULD NOT RESIST. IT IS NOW APPARENT THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FALLING INTO THE CATEGORY IS NOT LIKELY TO BE LARGE AND THAT WE NEED TO SELECT THEM FROM A LARGER POOL IF WE ARE TO HAVE A GROUP OF 30 - 50 RETURNEES IN
THE FIRST GROUP.
2=
-
WE SHALL DO OUR BEST TO MEET A TARGET OF MID-AUGUST. BUT WE SHALL NOT BE SURE IF SUCH A TARGET WILL BE FEASIBLE UNTIL WE HAVE HAD TIME TO COUNSEL AND MONITOR THE 400 PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY A SUITABLE GROUP FOR RETURN. WE WILL OF COURSE KEEP YOU ABREAST OF HOW THIS EXERCISE PROGRESSES.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
115
ΜΑΙΝ
109
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
INFO D
LIMITED
FINANCE D
HKD
RMD
SEAD
PS
UND
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL