CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 153
OF 120836Z JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
(27)
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
243 15
RECEIVED IN RE
30 JAN1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
31
010264
MDHIAN 2235
TOP COPY
O DIST ?
HANOI TELNO 17: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
WE WOULD NOT WISH UNHCR TO BE INVOLVED IN MONITORING THE NON- VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME AT THE HONG KONG END BECAUSE:
(A) THIS WOULD BE AT VARIANCE WITH OUR STANDARD REMOVAL PROCEDURES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA. WE DO NOT FAVOUR EXCEPTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: AND
(B)
GIVEN THE PRESENT UNHCR ATTITUDE IN HONG KONG TOWARDS MANDATORY REPATRIATION, THEIR PRESENCE WOULD ONLY PROMPT A DISPLAY OF EMOTION AND PROTEST FROM THE NON-VOLUNTEERS, AND THEREBY UNDERMINE THE SUCCESS OF ANY REMOVAL OPERATIONS.
FORD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
66
MAIN
63
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
NEWS D
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR BLATHERWICK
MR MCLAREN
MR MOSS
MR BEAMISH
ADDITIONAL
3
MR REEVES CABINET OFFICE PRESS OFFICE NO 10
NNNN
MR HOWARD, SEC (0) (c) MAD
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