CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 27
CONFIDENTIAL
(48)
026532
MDHIAN 2896
HKB 243
RECEIVED IN
GISTRY
05 FEB 1990
DESK OFFICER
HA
5
Kon ken
TOP COPY
O DIST ?
INDEX
OF 180115Z JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
c)
YOUR TELNO 17: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: ODP
1. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT WHETHER THE ODP IN PRACTICE ENCOURAGES A PARALLEL FLOW OF ILLEGAL DEPARTURES. WE, AND THE VIETNAMESE, HAVE OF COURSE ALWAYS REGARDED IT AS AXIOAATIC THAT OPENING THE DOORS TO LEGAL DEPARTURE WOULD DISCOURAGE ILLEGAL DEPARTURE. UNTIL THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION. PERHAPS QUESTIONING IN THE CAMPS MIGHT PRODUCE EVIDENCE.
2. I AM RELUCTANT TO SUGGEST TO THE VIETNAMESE THAT THEY TRY TO PUT OVER A MESSAGE PUBLICLY HERE IN FAVOUR OF ONE METHOD OF DEPARTURE RATHER THAN ANOTHER. I WOULD PREFER TO STICK WITH THE ONE CLEAR MESSAGE WHICH I TRUST WILL COME OUT OF THP CURRENT UNHCR EFFORTS (EG THE VIDEOS AND FILMS NOW BEING MADE) THAT ILLEGAL DEPARTURE IS AN TOTALLY POINTLESS EXERCISE.
DAVIES
YYXY
FCO PSE PASS HONG KONG NAND UKMIS GENEVA
YYYY
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL