CONFIDENTIAL
нко 24319
140142
MDHIAN 7582
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 74
OF 06111OZ JANUARY 89
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INFO PRIORITY HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK
TOP COPY Q BIT ?
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: FIRST RETURNEES
1. THE RETURN OF THE FIRST BATCH OF VOLUNTEERS IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE REPATRIATION OF VBPS. WE BELIEVE THAT FULL PUBLICITY FOR THE EVENT BOTH IN VIETNAM AND IN HONG KONG WOULD HELP TO GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE ACROSS TO POTENTIAL VBPS IN VIETNAM AND THOSE ALREADY ARRIVED THAT THERE ARE NO PROSPECTS FOR THEM IN HONG KONG. INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION SHOULD ALSO HELP BOTH TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT AND TO REASSURE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT REPATRIATION IS HUMANE AND PRACTICAL. IF THESE REPATRIATIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL AND WELL PUBLICISED WE HOPE THAT THEY MIGHT ENCOURAGE OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO COME FORWARD IN HONG KONG.
2. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS FROM LOCAL MEDIA AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS AGENCIES FOR ASSISTANCE IN COVERING THE EVENT, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT YET AWARE OF DATES OR DETAILS. THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY KEEN. THEY HAVE ALL ASKED TO HAVE THEIR REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS/CAMERAMEN ACCOMPANYING THE FIRST RETURNEES IF THEY WERE TO RETURN BY CHARTERED FLIGHT. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT THINK THAT SUCH REQUESTS SHOULD BE ENTERTAINED, FOR SECURITY REASONS, WE BELIEVE ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ENSURE THAT THESE REPATRIATIONS ARE WELL PUBLICISED.
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3 WE WONDER WHETHER HANOI COULD SOUND OUT THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES IN VIETNAM AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE PREPARED TO EXTEND FACILITIES TO THE HONG KONG NEWS MEDIA TO COVER THE RETURN, AND REINTEGRATION IF POSSIBLE, OF THE FIRST RETURNEES, AND TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE NEED FOR PRESS AND PUBLICITY ARRANGEMENTS AT THEIR END.
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL