CONFIDENTIAL
135341 MDHOAN 5148
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCQ
TO SEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1094
OF 10143OZ JUNE 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
FROM COLVIN, SEAD
OUR TELNO 997: VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: OMELCO DELEGATION
=
JOHN YAXLEY, COMMISSIONER AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S LONDON OFFICE, SAW THE OMELCO DELEGATION THIS MORNING. HE TELLS US THAT THEY WERE IN UNCOMPROMISING MOOD. THEY WERE EQUALLY FORTHRIGHT WHEN I SAW THEM FOR THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON. ELSIE TU IN PARTICULAR BELIED A BENIGN GRANNY APPEARANCE WITH A PERFORMANCE CLOSER TO ROSA KLEBB THAN GRANDMA MOSES. I USED THE IMC DEFENCE TO THE UTMOST BUT THEY WERE INCLINED TO DISMISS THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE. AS A WASTE OF TIME, TOO SPECULATIVE AND TOO LATE. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HMG WOULD DO WHEN (NOT IF) HONG KONG ABANDONED FIRST ASYLUM LATER THIS SUMMER.
2. THE DELEGATION WILL DELIVER AN ENCORE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 11 JUNE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE DESKBY 11090OZ ON HOW BEST TO DEFLECT THEIR ARGUMENTS.
COULD AND SHOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE
REVEAL THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING AN EARLY MANDATORY REPATRIATION FLIGHT TO RETURN THE DOUBLE-BACKERS? IF SO, GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW PLANNING IS PROCEEDING AND HOW QUICKLY THE OPERATION COULD BE ARRANGED SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE A LINE TO TAKE ACCORDINGLY. HURD
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
134
ΜΑΙΝ
127
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
PS
LIMITED
PS/MRS CHALKER
SEAD
EAPD/ODA
ECD (E)
HD/ECFAD/ODA
FED
PAGE
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
MR LANKESTER
SIR J COLES
1
CONFIDENTIAL