CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
243 19
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2114
OF 17173OZ OCTOBER 89
TOY COPY
Q DIST ?
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA
3115
064555 MDHOAN 5688
PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. IN THE COURSE OF A CALL ON ME TODAY TO INTRODUCE HOWARD PERLOW (COUNTRY OFFICER FOR THE UK AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT), ROSS RODGERS OF THE US EMBASSY HERE LOBBIED HARD AND IN FAMILIAR TERMS AGAINST MANDATORY REPATRIATION. THE MAIN THRUST WAS THAT MORE TIME WAS NEEDED TO MAKE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WORK AND THAT THE
TIME WAS NOT RIGHT TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE MEASURES. HE STRESSED
THAT THE US WAS READY TO MAKE A MAJOR NEW EFFORT TO MAKE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WORK BETTER.
2.
I WAS ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE POINTS WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY. BUT I WAS SURPRISED BY ONE THING WHICH RODGERS SAID. HE CLAIMED THAT, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG, HKG OFFICIALS CONCERNED AT WORKING LEVEL WITH THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM HAD TOLD THEM THAT IN THEIR VIEW THERE WAS NO WAY IN WHICH MANDATORY REPATRIATION COULD BE MADE TO WORK IN PRACTICE. THIS HAD REINFORCED THE AMERICAN VIEW THAT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WAS THE ONLY VIABLE WAY FORWARD
3. I AM PUZZLED BY THIS. IT MAY WELL BE THAT THE AMERICANS HAVE DELIBERATELY READ MUCH MORE THAN THEY SHOULD
INTO REMARKS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MADE
TO THEM. OR PERHAPS THEY SIMPLY GOT THE WRONG END OF THE STICK. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THEY HAVE THE CLEAR IMPRESSION THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WOULD NOT IMPLEMENT MANDATORY REPATRATION. THAT CAN ONLY SERVE TO UNDERMINE OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION IN GENEVA.
4 GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
MAJOR
YYYY
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