SECRET
620
MDHIAN 0120
FURTHERMORE, THE PRESENT ST T OF SINO-VIETNAMESE RELATIONS GIVES NO GROUNDS TO SUPPOSE THAT THE VIETNAMESE OR CHINESE WOULD WISH TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER IN ORGANISING AN EXERCISE TO REPATRIATE VBPS CURRENTLY IN HONG KONG. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER FORCE IS USED IN REPATRIATING VIETNAMESE ACROSS THE SINO-VIETNAMESE LAND BORDER. BUT, IN ANY CASE, THAT REGION IS RELATIVELY REMOTE AND WELL REMOVED FROM THE GLARE OF PUBLICITY.
5. WE AGREE THAT A POSSIBLE CHINESE REACTION TO ANY PROPOSAL ALONG THE LINES OF THAT ENVISAGED IN TUR COULD BE THAT WE SHOULD FIRST ABANDON OUR POLICY OF FIRST ASYLUM. IF THEY TOOK SUCH A LINE, WE ALSO AGREE WITH THE POINTS WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IN RESPONSE AS OUTLINED IN PARA 4 OF TUR. IF THE CHINESE WERE TO GIVE SUCH A PROPOSAL SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, WE ARE SURE THAT THEY WOULD LOOK TO US TO FINANCE THE ENTIRE OPERATION.
6. IF IT IS AGREED THAT WE SHOULD APPROACH THE CHINESE ON THIS, WE THINK THE SEQUENCE SUGGESTED IN PARA 7 OF TUR IS SENSIBLE
AND PRACTICAL.
DONALD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
113
DISTRIBUTION
123
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
NAD
NEWS D
INFO D
FINANCE D
RMD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR MCLAREN
MR SLATER
MR BURNS
MR MOSS
MR BLATHERWICK
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