CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 125
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
09 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER
OF 29030OZ DECEMBER 89 INFO PRIORITY FCO
INDEX
551
156571 MDLIAN 7280
TOP COPY Q DIST?
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE BRASS TACKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE ABOUT THE NEXT AND SUBSEQUENT NON-VOLUNTEER FLIGHTS, THEY ARE LIKELY TO MAKE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE MODALITIES. IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO GUESS WHAT THESS MIGHT BE AND TO PREPARE OUR POSITION INORDER TO SAVE TIME.
2. GIVEN THEIR REACTION AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST FLIGHT,
WE CAN REASONABLY ASSUME THAT THEY WILL RAISE QUESTIONS TO DO WITH PUBLICITY AND WITH THE GENERAL AREA OF POLICE PRESENCE AND FORCE/COMPULSION.
3. ON PUBLICITY, THEY ARE CAPABLE OF REQUESTING AGAIN THAT WE ESCHEW PUBLICITY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER. CLEARLY WE WILL READILY AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PRE-PUBLICITY AND WILL WANT TO PREVENT THE PRESENCE OF THE MEDIA AT THE ARRIVAL IN HANOI, IN CASE THERE ARE PROBLEMS. BUT I WOULD BE INCLINED TO URGE STRONGLY ON THE VIETNAMESE THAT THERE SHOULD BE CONSIDERABLE PUBLICITY THEREAFTER AND THAT IN PARTICULAR, THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD PUBLICISE THE RETURNS AND THEIR TREATMENT OF RETURNEES WITHIN VIETNAM, AS AN AID TO THE DETERRENCE CAMPAIGN AND REASSURANCE TO THOSE STILL IN HONG KONG.
4. THE QUESTION OF FORCE IS A VERY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ONE. I AM BOUND TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT EASY, EVEN FOR SYMPATHETICALLY INCLINED OUTSIDERS TO BELIEVE THAT IF INDEED NO FORCE WAS ENVISAGED OR REQUIRED SUCH A LARGE DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE WAS NECESSARY DURING THE OPERATION AND ON THE AIRCRAFT. DESPITE MY STRONG ASSURANCES THAT NO FORCE WAS USED I BELIEVE THE VIETNAMESE REMAIN SCEPTICAL AND WILL SEEK TO PUSH US INTO PROVING THAT NO FORCE WILL BE USED IN THE FUTURE BY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF POLICEMEN INVOLVED AT ALL STAGES. GIVEN THE APPARENT PROBLEM THEY HAVE INTERNALLY OVER THE REPATRIATION SCHEME AND POSSIBLE ALMO VIS A VIS THE AMERICANS, THIS MAY BECOME A STICKING POINT. THE FORMAL REQUIREMENTS OF INFORMATION FOR FLIGHT CLEARANCE PURPOSES MAY BECOME ACADEMIC
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