CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1784
OF 31183OZ AUGUST 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
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074042 MDHOAN 2582
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YOUR TELNO 2799 AND HANOI TELNOS 444 AND 78 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. THE APPARENT DEMISE OF THE QUOTE GREY AREA UNQUOTE APPROACH
WILL REQUIRE A CAREFUL REAPPRAISAL OF OUR STRATEGY FOR DEALING
WITH
THE REPATRIATION OF NON-VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERING HOW BEST TO HANDLE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN THE LIGHT
OF THE SUGGESTIONS IN FIRST TUR AND OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
AMERICANS AND WILL BE CONSULTING MINISTERS. WE WILL REVERT AS
SOON AS A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE WAY AHEAD.
2.
FOR HANOI. WE FULLY RECOGNISE THE DIFFICULTY OF HOLDING TO YOUR CURRENT LINE. HANOI'S PREOCCUPATION WITH SECRECY IS ALSO AN UNWELCOME COMPLICATION IN HANDLING MEDIA INTEREST AT THIS END IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS. THE COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO PHUC REPORTED IN HONG KONG TELNO 2875 UNDERLINE THE DIFFICULTIES. NOTWITHSTANDING VIETNAMESE SENSITIVITIES, WE AGREE THAT, IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER MEDIA ENQUIRIES YOU SHOULD SAY THAT
NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON THE
REPATRIATION OF PEOPLE DETERMINED NOT TO BE REFUGEES AND WHO HAVE
NO PROSPECT OF RESETTLEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES. IF THIS IS QUESTIONED BY THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES YOU SHOULD REMIND THEM OF LORD GLENARTHUR'S DISCUSSION WITH THACH ON THE MARGINS OF THE ICIR WHEN IT WAS AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT REALISTIC TO AVOID PUBLICITY ALTOGETHER AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO CONFIRM THAT CONTACTS CONTINUED WITH A VIEW TO EXPANDING EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF NON-REFUGEES (UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 356), AND THAT THE LINE YOU ARE TAKING DOES NO MORE THAN THAT.
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