RESTRICTED
11KB 243 15. 24315.
VED IN RE
29 MAR 1990
101522
MDHIAN 1982
102
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 967
OF 20070OZ MARCH 90
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
·
1 A GROUP OF 83 VOLUNTEERS LEFT FOR HANOI EARLIER TODAY ON BOARD THE FOURTEENTH VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION FLIGHT. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNEES UNDER THE PROGRAMME TO 1484 SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN MARCH 1989. WE HAD HOPED THAT UNHCR WOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THIS FLIGHT BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CLEAR SOME OF THE MEDICAL REPORTS ON TIME. THE RESULT WAS THAT A GROUP OF 23 WERE UNABLE TO BARD THE
FLIGHT. TEN MORE WITHDREW FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY UNHCR DID NOT HAVE RESERVES CLEARED AND READY TO DEPART AS A CONTINGENCY AGAINST SUCH PROBLEMS. WE SHALL BE TAKING UP THESE PROBLEMS WITH UNHCR HERE IN THE HOPE THAT THEIR
ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE IMPROVED.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
68
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
NAD
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
DISTRIBUTION
74
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR BLATHERWICK
MR MCLAREN
MR MOSS
MR BEAMISH