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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
TELNO MISC 863
OF 23035OZ NOVEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, UKMIS GENEVA
396
027642 MDHIAN 5751
HKB 243 19
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
THE UNHCR'S BANGKOK BASED REGIONAL OFFICER FOR DURABLE SOLUTIONS (CASSELLA) HAS INFORMED US THAT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE BRIEFED UNHCR ON OUR PLANS TO REPATRIATE THE FIRST GROUP OF NON- VOLUNTEERS. ACCORDING TO CASSELLA, THE VIETNAMESE HAVE INFORMED THE UNHCR HEAD OF MISSION IN HANOI THAT THE FLIGHT IS PLANNED FOR 10 DECEMBER AND INVITED UNHCR OFFICIALS TO BE PRESENT AT THE AIRPORT TO MEET THE FLIGHT. CASELLA IS PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO HANOI TO BE A PART OF THE QUOTE WELCOMING COMMITTEE UNQUOTE.
2.
WE ASSUME THAT THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PASSED TO GENEVA AND CASELLA ASSUMED THAT THE LOCAL OFFICE OF UNHCR HERE WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED.
3. THIS IS AN UNHELPFUL DEVELOPMENT. IF, AS WE FEAR, THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PASSED TO GENEVA AND HONG KONG IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY REACH THE CAMPS AND THE PRESS AND COULD JEOPARDISE THE REPATRIATION OPERATION. ALTHOUGH CASELLA'S VERSION IS NOT STRICTLY ACCURATE, IT DOES INDICATE THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE CONTINUING THEIR PRACTICE OF BRIEFING UNHCR (AND PERHAPS OTHERS) ON OUR BILATERAL DEALINGS. THEY BRIEFED VIERA DE MELLO SOME MONTHS AGO ON THE JUNE AGREEMENT. IF WE ARE TO CARRY OUT THIS OPERATION DISCREETLY, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD
THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF OUR BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS, TO WHICH THE UNHCR ARE NOT PRIVY. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THEY COULD BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM BRIEFING UNHCR UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST GROUP HAVE BEEN RETURNED.
WILSON
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