Mr Myswan Gre
Hy
1/2
Mr Colvin
Mr McLaren
FROM:
DATE
A Godson
South East Asian Department
14
HR DEC 24 February 1989
Footman, HKD
Ms McKeown, SPD
14/2
Mr Whitehead, News Dept
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG :
RETURNS
MEDIA COVERAGE FOR FIRST
A
1.
Hanoi have drawn attention to the level of prospective media
interest in the first returns of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong
and have asked for a reinforcement to cope with the expected influx
of journalists (Mr Partridge's teleletter of 7 February) HMA Bangkok is prepared to release his information officer, Mr Bean, to help out for a few days but neither Bangkok nor Hanoi can cover the
costs from their local budgets.
2.
The first returns are likely to attract a good deal of interest and it will be important for the Embassy to respond quickly
and efficiently to enquiries from the press and electronic media.
Mr Bean is well qualified to help and the sums involved in sending
him to Hanoi would be modest: a return air fare and five days
subsistence would come to approximately £500. I therefore recommend
that the costs be met from Mr McLaren's AUS travel budget.
3.
We do not yet have a firm date for the return of the first batch of boat people but we are aiming for 2/3 March.
Again
A Godson