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DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
6 I am satisfied that everything possible has been done
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION to ensure the success of this difficult and sensitive
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
operation. But we must recognise that it cannot be made
totally risk free. We need to take a final decision
whether or not to proceed by noon on 11 December, just
before my lunch with Secretary Baker.
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
7 I also mentioned to you that we were looking beyond
the first operation on 12 December. We must face the
fact that even if we send back several more plane loads
of non volunteers in the coming months, it may not deter
a fresh outflow next year. An overriding priority must
be to prevent another influx into Hong Kong on the scale
of 1989, which amounted to over 30,000.
/
In my view, the most effective deterrent would be to
deal with new arrivals through rapid screening and the
quick return of those screened out. If this could be
done on board ship without the individuals setting foot
on Hong Kong soil, so much the better. However the
feasibility of such a scheme to a large degree depends on
the credibility of the screening arrangements and the
willingness of the Vietnamese to cooperate. I envisage a
difficult negotiation with both the UNHCR and the
Vietnamese about this. However, even the news that we
are working on such a scheme might have a deterrent
effect. There would certainly be a substantial price to
pay. I intend to put detailed proposals to you and
colleagues as soon as possible.
A copy of this minute goes to OD (K) colleagues.
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