CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 3620
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 18120OZ FCO
TELNO 2404
OF 18111OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA
116
YOUR TELNO 1524: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION: PRESS HANDLING
1. WE ARE MOST CONCERNED THAT HELLA PICK OF THE GUARDIAN MANAGED TO GET HOLD OF SO MUCH DETAIL. TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE, WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO AVOID ATTRACTING PUBLIC AND MEDIA ATTENTION PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST RETURN.
2. ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE POINTS RAISED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR ARE TO BE USED AFTER THE EVENT, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
(A) AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST EXERCISE, WE WOULD CONFIRM PUBLICLY THAT NO FORCE HAD BEEN USED IN THE RETURN OF THE NON- REFUGEES. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT WISH TO GO AS FAR AS GIVING A COMMITMENT PUBLICLY THAT NOR FORCE WILL REPEAT WILL BE USED FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT WORD WOULD GET BACK TO PROSPECTIVE RETURNEES WHICH WOULD THEN PUT THE FUTURE OF THE WHOLE PROGRAMME AT RISK:
(B) WITH REGARD TO THE PRESENCE OF AN INDEPENDENT WITNESS, THE PRESENT POSITION REMAINS AS SET OUT IN OUR TELNO 2379. WE WILL
LET YOU KNOW AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WHAT IF ANY ARRANGEMENTS WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE WITH UNHCR OR AN NGO. ON THE QUESTION OF MONITORING OF RETURNEES, WE WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT THE HANOI TEMBASSY WILL TAKE ON THIS ROLE, UNLESS UNHCR OR AN NGO IN UK CAN BE PERSUADED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
(C) WE UNDERSTAND UNHCR'S RELUCTANCE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE REPATRIATION OF NON-VOLUNTEERS AT THIS STAGE. BUT, SINCE THE CPA ENVISAGES EVENTUAL REPATRIATION OF ALL NON-REFUGEES, WE HOPE THAT THE UNHCR WILL AGREE TO MONITOR THE RETURNEES AFTER THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM AND ASSIST IN THE DISBURSEMENT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE.
WILSON
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