SECRET
ZCZC
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
TELNO
OF
OUT TELEGRAM
OCTOBER 1989
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
IMMEDIATE
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1 Ministers have decided that we should set in hand the detailed
arrangements for returning the first batch of screened-out boat
people who are not volunteers on Tuesday 31 October.
October. A final decision to go ahead will be taken in the light of the outcome of SC3 in Geneva (16/17 October). Meanwhile, it is imperative that the strictest possible security should surround the date of the operation and the details of its implementation.
ACTION WITH THE VIETNAMESE
2 The first requirement is to sign the text of the Agreed Minute setting out the conditions for the repatriation and resettlement of the first group of returnees which was agreed, but not signed, by Mr Partridge in late July (your telno 83 to Hong Kong). In addition, Hong Kong will need to inform the Vietnamese side of the date, place and flight of the return two weeks in advance. 3 Subject to Hong Kong's views, we would prefer to delay signature of the Agreed Minute for as long as possible so that we
can continue to argue that the final details have not been settled. Similarly, we would also like to put off notifying the Vietnamese of the date for the first return for as long as
SEAD
D H COLVIN