SECRET!
453
066352
MDHIAN 7598
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 05140OZ FCO
TELNO 4011
OF 05123OZ DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
(441)
HKB 243 la
TOP COPY Q DET?
YOUR TELNO 2426: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : REPATRIATION
IN ASSEMBLING THE GROUP OF NON-REFUGEES FOR THE FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE OUR MAIN CONCERN WAS TO SELECT FAMILY GROUPS WHO SEEMED
LIKELY TO ACQUIESCE. WHEN THE PHOENIX HOUSE GROUP WERE FIRST BROUGHT TOGETHER IN EARLY NOVEMBER THEY WERE CALM AND APPARENTLY RESIGNED TO THE PROSPECT OF REPATRIATION. HOWEVER, THE RECENT PUBLICITY SEEMS TO HAVE STIRRED THEM TO PROTEST. FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL TO HOSPITAL OF VU VAN HHUAN (THE DIABETIC HUNGER STRIKER)
THE GENERAL PROTEST AT PHOENIX HAS ENDED AND THE SITUATION IS AT
PRESENT CALM.
IS
2. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT MOST OF THE 56 WILL ACCEPT REPATRIATION
PROVIDED THE OPERATION CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN SECRET. IF THERE UNHCR OR PRESS INTERFERENCE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A PROTEST FROM SOME OF THE RETURNEES. MR VU VAN NHUAN IS LIKELY TO BE OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM. HE WILL PROBABLY BE FIT TO TRAVEL: BUT WE MUST THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO RETURN HIM
AND HIS FAMILY IN THIS GROUP.
3. IF IT DOES BECOME NECESSARY TO USE MINIMUM FORCE THIS WILL IN
THE FIRST INSTANCE AMOUNT TO GUIDING RELUCTANT PEOPLE TO THE POLICE VEHICLES OR THE AIRCRAFT. IN EXTREMIS, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CARRY PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO MOVE. AT THE HONG KONG END THIS WILL NOT PRESENT A MAJOR PROBLEM BUT THERE COULD BE DIFFICULTIES AT HANOI IF PEOPLE REFUSE TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT. THE POLICE OFFICERS WILL NOT
LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT NOR THEY BE VISIBLE AT ANY STAGE TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND. IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESCORTING VBP FROM THE AIRCRAFT. IF WE HAVE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN REMOVING SOME PEOPLE FROM THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WE DO NOT/NOT AT THIS STAGE ANTICIPATE, THE SENIOR SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIAL WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO AUTHORISE THE USE OF MINIMUM FORCE TO EFFECT THE REMOVAL.
WILSON