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071061 MDHIAN 7753
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FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3159
OF 060245Z DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
445
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
HANOI TELNO 663 AND UN TELNO 0435Z DECEMBER:
PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
VIETNAMESE BOAT
1. I AM VERY CONCERNED BY THE REPORTS IN TURS THAT FORCE MIGHT BE USED TO EXPEL RETURNEES FROM THE AIRCRAFT IN HANOI, AND THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT MIGHT DISSOCIATE ITSELF FROM THE OPERATION AS A WHOLE. EITHER WOULD GREATLY INCREASE OUR DIFFICULTIES HERE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE WERE DISTURBANCES IN HONG KONG AS WELL, AND GIVEN THE LIKELY ATTITUDE OF THE UNHCR. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED THAT THE RETURN OF VBPS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH WE COULD BE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEIVED IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY. THE PRESENTATION OF OUR CASE HERE WOULD BE GRAVELY UNDERMINED IF SUCH GUARANTEES WERE NO LONGER CERTAIN, AND IF THERE COULD BE NO CREDIBLE MONITORING OF RETURNEES' WELFARE.
2. AS REPORTED IN MY TELNO 3137, THE US PRESS HAVE STARTED TO RUN ARTICLES CRITICISING THE UK'S INTENTIONS. FURTHER ARTICLES
AND A LETTER FROM A REFUGEE LOBBY GROUP APPEARED ON 5 DECEMBER (COPIES OF ARTICLES BY FAX TO SEAD). THEY HIGHLIGHT THE ALLEGED SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SCREENING PROCEDURE, AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TREATMENT OF VBPS AND THOSE FLEEING COMMUNISM IN
EASTERN EUROPE. ONE ARTICLE REJECTS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFUGEES AND CALLS ON BRITAIN QUOTE TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE ESCAPING REPRESSION OF WHATEVER
FORM ARE GIVEN AS MUCH HELP AND SUPPORT AS THOSE NOW DESERTING
EASTERN EUROPE UNQUOTE.
3.
IF THEREFORE WE ARE TO PROCEED, WE SHALL NEED TO BE AS SURE AS WE CAN BE THAT OUR PUBLIC POSITION IS FACTUALLY WATERTIGHT. I
SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE TEXTS IN MY
TELNOS 2978 AND 2979 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WITH THIS IN MIND. 4. THERE MUST NOW BE A REAL RISK THAT WHAT LITTLE UNDERSTANDING THERE IS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND ON THE HILL FOR OUR POLICIES WILL BE UNDERMINED, AND THAT THE REACTION HERE WILL BE EVEN FIERCER THAN WE HAVE HITHERTO PREDICTED, WITH KNOCK-ON EFFECTS ON OUR WIDER INTERESTS, INCLUDING OVER HONG KONG AND NORTHERN IRELAND.
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