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HKO
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134121
MDLIAN 2949
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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3635
OF 01110OZ NOVEMBER 89
TOP Q!
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, WASHINGTON INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF THE CHINESE SPEAKING HONG KONG
PAPERS ON 31 OCTOBER REPORTED AN FCO SPOKESMAN AS SAYING THAT BRIT-
AIN MAY IMPLEMENT MANDATORY REPATRIATION BY THE END OF NOVEMBER IF
THE CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG CAMPS GET WORSE. THE FCO SPOKESMAN IS
QUOTED AS SAYING THAT BRITAIN HAS SECURED AN AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM IN PRINCIPLE AND THAT THE TWO SIDES ARE WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF
THE ARRANGEMENT. THE FCO SPOKESMAN IS ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE SAID THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS A MATTER BETWEEN BRITAIN AND VIETNAM, AND THAT THE AGREEMENT OF THE US IS NOT CRITICAL.
2. THE HONG KONG STANDARD, HOWEVER, QUOTES A FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN AS SAYING THAT RECENT REPORTS ON THE SCHEDULED DATE OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION WERE IN-CORRECT, AND THAT THERE IS NO SUCH SCHEDULE. THE SPOKESMAN IS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET CONCLUDED ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. THIS OF COURSE IS ALSO THE LINE WE ARE TAKING HERE.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
121
MAIN
113
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
RMD
LIMITED
PS
HKD
PS/MR MAUDE
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
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