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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO MISC 254
OF 1809OOZ APRIL 89
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159
162012 MDHIAN 1078
TO COPY Q DIST?
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, HANOI
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UKMIS GENEVA TELNO MISC 1 TO US: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
WE SHARE UNHCR'S CONCERN OVER THE USE OF A FERRY AS A DEPARTURE CENTRE FOR THE VOLUNTARY RETURNEES. THE FERRY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IF WE HAD HAD ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS A DEPARTURE CENTRE FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.
2. IN THE EVENT, WE DECIDED NOT TO USE THE FERRY AND OPTED INSTEAD FOR A LOGISTICALLY MORE DIFFICULT, BUT IN OTHER RESPECTS MORE ACCEPTABLE, ARRANGEMENT. THE VOLUNTEERS WILL NOW REMAIN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DETENTION CENTRES. THEY ARE BROUGHT OUT TO A CENTRALLY LOCATED DOCUMENTATION POINT (THE OLD MACAU FERRY TERMINAL) TO MEET THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND ARE RETURNED TO THE CENTRES AFTERWARD.
3.
IN THE ABSENCE OF SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION THIS RATHER FRAGMENTED METHOD OF HOUSING THE VOLUNTEERS WILL HAVE TO BE USED UNTIL DEPARTURE FOR HANOI.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
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