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From the Private Secretary
Dear Steplen,
SECRET
MON
10 DOWNING STREET
LONDON SW1A 2AA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
SEAD
Vor/M Mande Ps/Led Bratona
PJ/MY
Mfillmore
30 November 1989
нио Gill Adures
Nas Dept
Cyal Aducers вки
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary had a brief discussion this morning of the problem of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.
The Foreign Secretary said that press reports of Vietnamese refusal to accept those repatriated against their will was more a reflection of Vietnamese duplicity than a change of position. They had agreed one thing with us but were saying another for public consumption. He proposed that the operation to repatriate them should start quite shortly, probably towards the middle of next month. However successful we were in getting some back to Vietnam, the key would be to stop a new inflow in the spring. The best deterrent to this would be to devise a system to turn round new arrivals in Hong Kong more rapidly, by putting them straight on to ships and sending them back to Vietnam. Proposals on this were being worked up.
The Prime Minister said she did not believe it was permissible in international law for any country to refuse to take back its own citizens. She would like to be able to say this in the House if necessary. The Foreign Secretary said that he would have the point examined urgently.
you diary, Сидень
Charles Powell
Stephen Wall Esq
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
SECRET
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