CONFIDENTIAL
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HKD 243/9
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TOP COPY Q DIST?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1202
OF 17065OZ APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
155
156126
MDHIAN 0893
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
1.
ALTHOUGH 116 NAMES HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY THE VIETNAMESE FOR THE SECOND BATCH OF VOLUNTARY RETURNS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH EXTANT REQUESTS HAS UNFORTUNATELY FALLEN TO 58. OUR CONCERN IS THAT A GROUP
OF THIS SIZE WILL REINFORCE THE IMPRESSION OF WANING ENTHUSIASM FOR
VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
2. WE UNDERSTAND FROM UNHCR THAT 71 FURTHER APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AND ARE STILL BEING CONSIDERED. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD BE ASKED TO SEEK
VIETNAMESE AGREEMENT FOR THESE PEOPLE ALSO TO BE INTERVIEWED AND
ISSUED WITH PROVISIONAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BY THE VISITING VIETNAMESE
OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RETURNEES FOR THE
SECOND BATCH.
3. ICM HAS INFORMED US THAT AN AIRCRAFT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TRANSPORT THE RETURNEES TO HANOI ON 27 APRIL, ARRIVING THERE DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNHCR WILL SHORTLY INFORM
THE VIETNAMESE OF THE DATE AND DETAILS, BUT SUGGEST NEVERTHELESS THAT HANOI SHOULD BE ASKED TO PUT THE DATE TO THE VIETNAMESE ON A
PROVISIONAL BASIS PENDING CONFIRMATION FROM UNHCR.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
NEWS PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
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