CONFIDENTIAL
1547
MDHIAN 5121
FOLLOWING
REFUGEES SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
AGREEMENT WITH THE VIENAMESE GOVERNMENT WE WILL BE RETURNING TO
VIETNAM A SMALL GROUP OF NON-REFUGEES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN. NEVERTHELESS, FORCE WILL NOT BE USED. WE BELIEVE YOU WILL APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THIS DEVELOPMENT AND HOPE THAT YOUR GOVEERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO
EXPRESS ITS UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR OUR ACTION AND THE LEVEL OF CO-OPERATION WE HAVE ACHIEVED WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.
5. WE WILL BE TAKING PARALLEL ACTION WITH CONSULS GENERAL BUT FEAR
THAT A BRIEFING HERE ON THE DAY THE REPATRIATION TAKES PLACE WILL
NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THEM TO INFORM THEIR GOVERNMENTS AND GET
OUT HELPFUL STATEMENTS EARLY ENOUGH. WE DO NOT/NOT WISH TO BRIEF ASEAN BEFORE THE DAY ITSELF. WE WILL INFORM YOU AND POSTS INVOLVED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHICH DATE THIS WILL BE.
6.
WE ALSO PROPOSE TO BRIEF NCNA ON THE SAME DAY AS ASEAN. WE WILL
ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THIS AS A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING HELPFUL ON
THE ISSUE FOR A CHANGE.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
109
DISTRIBUTION
115
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
NAD
NEWS
ADDITIONAL
6
INFO D
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL