Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: D H Gillmore W37 270 2156
10 August 1989 PS/Mr Maude
CC:
Mr Godson, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Grant, News Dept
[VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION]
1.
I agree with Mr Paul. I think the Secretary of State should see this draft before despatch; it will be the first communication of a policy decision to Hong Kong since he took office and it reflects a series of discussions which he held inside and outside the Office.
2.
After discussions with Mr Paul, we thought the telegram should not be counched in first-person terms. The decision will not be welcome in Hong Kong, but the department has stressed the damaging consequences for HKG if the first repatriation exercise goes
wrong.
DH Gillmore
CONFIDENTIAL
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