CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
11KB
24314
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
22FEB1999 TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
DESK OFFICER
TELNO 296
INDEX
OF 02181OZ FEBRUARY 0
INFO PRIORITY HANOI
101473
MDHOAN 2353
(26
FOR SECRETARY FOR SECURITY FROM COLVIN, SEAD VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: TROUBLE MAKERS AND WEAPONS
1.
DURING SC3 IN GENEVA YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF FORMER NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY PERSONNEL ARRIVING IN THE CAMPS, AND THAT THEIR GREATER ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY POSED AN INCREASING THREAT TO CSD AND POLICE IN MAINTAINING ORDER. YOU ALSO BROUGHT AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF HAND MADE WEAPONS WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE
CAMPS DURING SEARCHES.
2.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE MATERIAL REVEALING THIS SIDE OF CAMP LIFE FOR JUDICIOUS USE WITH THE MEDIA HERE, IN PARTICULAR PHOTOGRAPHS IN AN APPROPRIATE FORMAT TO HAND OVER TO THE PRESS. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF
FORMER NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY PEOPLE NOW IN THE CAMPS AND THE RATE AT WHICH THE ARRIVAL OF THESE PEOPLE HAS INCREASED. PAINTING A LESS SAVOURY PICTURE OF SOME OF THE CAMP INMATES MIGHT HELP TO REINFORCE OUR CASE BOTH WITH THE MEDIA AND IN PARLIAMENT, THOUGH PROVISION OF SUCH INFORMATION WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY MANAGED SO AS NOT TO APPEAR PART OF A 'DIRTY TRICKS' CAMPAIGN.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
112
DISTRIBUTION
121
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
RMD
PS
:
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL