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CONFIDENTIAL
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122242 MDHOAN 4921
HKB 243/9
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 14010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1505
OF 13200OZ JULY 89
AND TO DESKBY 14010OZ HANOI
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN
HANOI TELNO 356 AND YOUR TELNO 2357: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
REPATRIATION: PRESENTATIONAL ASPECTS
1. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING HOW BEST TO MANAGE THE PRESENTATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE REPATRIATION OF THE FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS. WE SHALL NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN
TO PREEMPT CRITICISM FROM THE BRITISH AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, AND FROM THE AMERICANS AND UNHCR.
THE REPATRIATION OF UP TO 35,000 PEOPLE WILL BE A LONG PROCESS IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT IT SHOULD GET OFF TO THE BEST POSSIBLE START.
2.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW PRECISELY WHAT LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
ARE ENVISAGED FOR THE REPATRIATION.
WE ASSUME FROM YOUR TELNO 2351 THAT THE 23
INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED WILL BE TAKEN BY COACH DIRECTLY TO THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING, AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO MEDIA
ACCESS BEFORE OR DURING THE BOARDING OF THE AIRCRAFT. IS IT
LIKELY TO BE PRACTICABLE TO PREVENT THE ARRANGEMENTS LEAKING.
BEFORE THE DEPARTURE OF THE AIRCRAFT?
3. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO AVOID GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAVE
ANYTHING TO
HIDE IN THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT BACK.
THERE WOULD BE GREAT ADVANTAGE IN OUR SUBSEQUENT DEALINGS WITH THE MEDIA IF WE COULD POINT TO AN INDEPENDENT WITNESS OF THE
DEPARTURE OR AT LEAST TO OUR WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW AN INDEPENDENT
WITNESS TO OBSERVE THE EVENT. WE SEE MERIT IN THE IDEA OF
INVITING THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE TO BE AT KAI TAK AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. EVEN IF HE WERE TO DECLINE WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO SAY THAT WE HAD MADE THE OFFER. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO
INVITE A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE OF THE NGOS, IN PARTICULAR OXFAM OR THE SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND, WHO WE KNOW TO HAVE ACCEPTED THE LOGIC OF THE NEED FOR REPATRIATION.
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