SECRET
1235
MDHIAN 9359
COULD IMPLEMENT IT GRADUALLY DURING JANUARY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW ACCOMMODATION DURING EARLY JANUARY WILL ENABLE US TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF THE GREEN ISLAND RECEPTION CENTRE. WE WOULD THEN FOCUS OUR SCREENING AND APPEALS RESOURCES ON THOSE AT GREEN ISLAND COR SOME OTHER SUITABLE CENTRE) AND ON SUBSEQUENT NEW ARRIVALS. IT WOULD, HOWEVER, BE ESSENTIAL TO CONTINUE WITH A SCREENING PROGRAMME IN THE MAIN DETENTION CENTRES AND TO CONTINUE WITH THE REPATRIATION OF THOSE ALREADY SCREENED OUT. ALTHOUGH THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEAL QUICKLY WITH NEW ARRIVALS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT CAMP MILITANCY HAS LED US TO ABANDON PLANS TO DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE MAIN DETENTION CENTRES.
5. WE WILL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY ON THE QUESTION OF HOW A SOUTH CHINA HOLDING CENTRE COULD FIT INTO OUR STRATEGY IN THE LONGER
TERM.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
61
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
2
MR REEVES CABINET OFFICE PRESS OFFICE NO 10
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
63
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR BLATHERWICK
MR MCLAREN
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