CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 13090OZ FCO
TELNO 2351
OF 13084OZ JULY 89
AND TO DESKBY 13090OZ HANOI
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 24319
(90)
120062
MDHIAN 3075
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 248 TO HANOI : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION :
DRAFT AGREED MINUTE
WE APPRECIATE THE PROCEDURAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WE HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT AN INSPIRED PQ WHICH WILL CERTAINLY HEIGHTEN MEDIA ATTENTION IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST EXERCISE. WE BELIEVE
CONFIDENTIALITY IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE OPERATION.
2.
IF IT WOULD HELP TO AVOID THE NEED FOR A PQ IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE, WE CAN PROVIDE FUNDS TO MEET THE FULL COST OF THE FIRST EXERCISE. YOU CAN THEN REIMBURSE US YOUR SHARE ONCE THE PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS ARE RESOLVED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF
THE FIRST EXERCISE.
3. WE ARE DOUBTFUL OF THE NEED TO LIMIT THE AGREED MINUTE TO THE FIRST GROUP OF 26 RETURNEES, AND THEN SEEK TO EXTEND IT IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. THE PACE AND TIMING OF ANY FURTHER REPATRIATION, AND HENCE OF ANY EXPENDITURE, ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL. THE MINUTE DOES NOT COMMIT HMG, OR HKG, OR EVEN THE BRITISH SIDE TO ANY EXPENDITURE BEYOND THE FIRST GROUP OF RETURNEES PROVIDED THAT THE ADVANCE PAYMENT OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE IS LINKED TO THE NUMBER OF
NON-REFUGEES RETURNED.
4.
IF THE FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE IS TO TAKE PLACE ON 17 JULY, AND TO ENABLE US TO CHARTER THE AIRCRAFT AND TO MAKE ALL OTHER
ARRANGEMENTS WE SHALL NEED CONFIRMATION BY 14 JULY 010OZ AT THE
LATEST THAT:
A)
THE VIETNAMESE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT BACK THE FIRST GROUP
OF 26 WHOSE DETAILS WE HAVE SUBMITTED: AND
B)
THE VIETNAMESE AGREE TO THE DATE OF 17 JULY, EVEN THOUGH WE SHALL BE GIVING LESS THAN THE TWO WEEKS' NOTICE OF FLIGHT
DETAILS SPECIFIED IN THE ANNEX TO THE ARRANGEMENT.
WILSON
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL