CONFIDENTIAL
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147737
HKB 243 19
MDHOAN 5473
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 25010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1562
OF 24173OZ JULY 89
INFO DESKBY 25010OZ BANGKOK
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
BANGKOK: PLEASE PASS TO BARNES (SECRETARY FOR SECURITY) VISITING
YOUR TELNO 2467:
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
REPATRIATION
1. THIS CHANGE OF PLAN HAS COME AS A SURPRISE TO US. WE APPRECIATE YOUR REASONS FOR PROPOSING A DELAY AND WOULD NOT NECESSARILY WISH TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR CONCLUSIONS. BUT WE SEE
DANGERS IN HOLDING UP THE REPATRATION PROCESS FOR SUCH A LONG
TIME. IS THERE NOT A REAL RISK OF LOSING THE IMPETUS ESTABLISHED
AFTER OUR TALKS WITH CO THACH LAST MONTH? IF WE HAVE TO SEEK VIETNAMESE APPROVAL TO A NEW LIST OF NAMES, THERE COULD BE FURTHER DELAY ON THE VIETNAMESE SIDE.
2. YOU WILL NO DOUBT ALSO HAVE CONSIDERED WHAT THE PRESS WILL MAKE OF THE DELAY, GIVEN THAT THEY WERE CLEAR THAT THE REPATRIATION WAS IMMINENT. THERE IS PRESUMABLY ALSO A RISK THAT
THE AMERICANS AND OTHERS WILL USE THE TIME TO MOBILISE FURTHER DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON US, ALTHOUGH BY THE SAME TOKEN WE COULD TRY TO USE THE TIME TO WIN OVER THEM AND UNHCR.
3. WOULD YOU SEE ANY MERIT IN SETTING A MID AUGUST TARGET,
IF ONLY TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE VIETNAMESE?
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
117
ΜΑΙΝ
111
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
INFO D
FINANCE D
HKD
RMD
SEAD
PS
UND
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
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