CONFIDENTIAL
024756
MDHIAN 2090
MANDATORY REPATRIATION ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT NO FORCE OF ANY
DESCRIPTION WILL BE USED. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME DOUBTS AS
TO WHETHER IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO MOUNT A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION
IF THIS CONSTRAINT IS TO BE FOLLOWED TO THE LETTER. WE HAVE
A GOOD DEAL OF OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE MANDATORY
REPATRIATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CHINA AND WITH EVCIIS.
IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO CARRY ONE OR TWO PEOPLE TO POLICE
VEHICLES AND TO RESTRAIN A SMALL MINORITY WHO DECIDE TO
RESIST.
8.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF USING ANY PHYSICAL PRESSURE
IN THIS FIRST OPERATION BUT WE MAY NEED TO SEEK AUTHORISATION
TO USE THE SAME SORT OF METHODS AS WE USE WITH ILLEGAL IMMI-
GRANTS TO PERSUADE OUR BOAT PEOPLE TO LEAVE. AS WE ARE NOW ASSUMING THAT AS NEITHER PRESS NOR UNHCR MONITORS WILL BE PRESENT DURING THE DEPARTURE OPERATION, THIS MAY NOT CREATE UNDUE PROBLEMS.
9. WE ARE CONSIDERING YOUR SUGGESTION IN PARAGRAPH 8 OF
SECOND TUR ABOUT GENERATING MORE BALANCED PRESS COVERAGE
AND WE WILL LET YOU HAVE OUR COMMENTS SOON. WE SHALL ALSO BE
TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY WITH A FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC MOOD ON THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM AND ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPING FURTHER CAMPS TO DEAL WITH THE CONTINUING INFLOW.
FORD
YYYY
MAIN
109
DISTRIBUTION
116
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PAGE
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
3
CONFIDENTIAL