CONFIDENTIAL
HK B
243
ja
323
074170
MDHIAN 0640
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3502
OF 191036Z OCTOBER 89
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
310
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM DEPUTY TO GOVERNOR
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 2114: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
PARAS 2 AND 3 OF TUR.
THERE HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING EITHER BY
THE U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL STAFF HERE OR BY THE US EMBASSY IN
LONDON.
2.
3.
THERE IS NO QUESTION OF HKG OFFICIALS HAVING TOLD THE USCG THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION COULD NOT BE MADE TO WORK IN PRACTICE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS MISUNDERSTANDING AROSE FROM A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE REFUGEE COORDINATOR AND A STAFF MEMBER OF THE USCG IN WHICH THE FORMER SPECULATED THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY AND AUTOMATICALLY DETER ARRIVALS AND THAT VBPS COULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO
ARRIVE FOR SOME TIME TO COME. THESE REMARKS WERE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR HKG TO PLAN AND PREPARE
ADDITIONAL VBP ACCOMMODATION NEXT YEAR.
FORD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
113
DISTRIBUTION
120.
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
RMD
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
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CONFIDENTIAL