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HKB 243
/a
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061702 MDHIAN 7288
SECRET
FM HANOI
TO DESKBY 04083OZ FCO
TELNO 660
OF 040445Z DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CHONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TEL NO 2438: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. YOU WILL I TRUST BY NOW HAVE SEEN MY TELNO 653.
(18.3
WITHIN
2. THE USE OF FIREARMS, LEG-IRONS, HANDCUFFS OR STICKS WOULD NOT UNNATURALLY BE REGARDED BY THE VIETNAMESE AS ''FORCE'' THE MEANING OF THE JUNE AGREEMENT, AND THEREFORE BE UNACCEPTABLE. THE SAME WOULD APPLY TO THE REPATRIATION OF SOMEONE ON HUNGER STRIKE (BY DEFINITION, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, NOT SOME ONE IN THE GREY AREA).
3. THE USE OF SOLDIERS WOULD NOT OF COURSE BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE VIETNAMESE ON THE AIRCRAFT, BUT THEIR USE IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE, DEPENDING ON THE PRECISE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS DIFFICULT TO VISUALISE A SITUATION IN WHICH SOLDIERS COULD BE USED WITHOUT SUCH USE BEING REASONABLY REGARDED AS THE USE OF FORCE.
4. AS FOR BREAKING UP FAMILIES, EVERYTHING WOULD DEPEND ON THE CIRUCMSTANCES OF THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY. IT WOULD I THINK BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE VIETNAMESE TO HAVE DEPENDANTS LEFT STRANDED AT EITHER END OF THE OPERATION.
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