HKB
CONFIDENTIAL
243
19
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTEY
04 JAN 1990
FM
FCO
DESK OFFICEM
TO
IMMEDIATE HANOI
INDEX
Ва
TOP COPY QDIST ?
TELNO 435
OF 20143OZ DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
531
140455
MDHOAN O067
513
518) (520 521)
ހ
YOUR TELNOS 697-700 AND 706:
·
5 26
VIETNAMESE
BOAT PEOPLE
1 WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE CLARIFICATIONS IN FIFTH TUR ABOUT VIETNAMESE INTENTIONS AND AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DRAW A LINE UNDER THIS EPISODE AND AVOID PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE VIETNAMESE NOTE. CLEARLY, THOUGH, YOU SHOULD KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH VU KHOAN AND HIS COLLEAGUES TO AVOID A REPETITION OF THE CONFUSION WITHIN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WHICH OCCURRED ON THIS OCCASION.
2. IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT VU KHOA NOW WANTS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE FUTURE. AS YOU KNOW, MINISTERS ARE KEEN TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUTURE REPATRIATIONS. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEWS OF VIETNAMESE REACTION TO OUR PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE (PARA 2 OF FIRST TUR) AND THE MEETING YOU HAVE SUGGESTED TO DISCUSS THESE (PARA 8 OF SECOND TUR).
3.
THE MEDIA HERE HAVE REPORTED COMMENTS BY NGUYEN CO THACH THAT VIETNAM WOULD BE INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES MISTREATED THOSE WHO RETURNED ON 12 DECEMBER. ACCORDING TO THESE REPORTS, THACH ADDED THAT, IF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE FOUND TO BE TRUE, VIETNAM WOULD HAVE TO RE-CONSIDER WHETHER TO COOPERATE WITH US ON REPATRIATION. HE IS ALSO SAID TO HAVE REPEATED THE STANDARD VIETNAMESE LINE THAT VIETNAM WOULD NOT ACCEPT BOAT PEOPLE RETURNED BY FORCE. WE SHOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND VIEWS ON THACH'S REMARKS, PARTICULARLY ON ANY POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS WITH VIETNAM.
HURD
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