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HKB 243
la
413
042433 MDHIAN 6403
SECRET
FM HANOI
TO
IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 640
OF 28050OZ NOVEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON
COPY
TO! Q LST ?
4
YOUR TELNO 394: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
·
1 CONSULAR DEPARTMENT TELEPHONED THIS MORNING TO SAY THAT AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, 6 DECEMBER WAS NOT REPEAT NOT A PRACTICAL PROPOSITION AND THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER
14 DECEMBER. I DID NOT HAVE THEREFORE TO REVEAL OUR HAND AND
WAS ABLE GRUDGINGLY TO ACCEPT THE LATER DATE.
2. HOWEVER, THERE IS A COMPLICATION IN THAT THE UNHCR ARE MAINTAINING THEIR BID FOR A VOLUNTEER FLIGHT ON 14 DECEMBER.
THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE IS EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO INTERFERE
WITH THE MOMENTUM WHICH HE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY BUILDING UP. HE
COULD NOT IN ANY CASE CEDE US WHAT HE REGARDS AS HIS SPOT IN THE
CALENDAR WITHOUT CONSULTING HIGHER AUTHORITY. THE VIETNAMESE ARE
CONTENT TO LEAVE IT TO US TO SORT IT OUT.
3. YOU WILL THEREFORE NEED TO DECIDE HOW TO PLAY IT VIS-A-VIS UNHCR, IN HONG KONG AND POSSIBLY GENEVA. AT THE END OF THE DAY PRESUMABLY HONG KONG COULD PREVENT A VOLUNTEER FLIGHT ON THE
DATE IN QUESTION BY REFUSING AN AIR TRAFFIC SLOT.
DAVIES
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
119
MAIN
111
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
RMD
LIMITED
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
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