TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 176

SECRET

176636

MDHIAN 8803

"

(E) THE CENTRES FOR THOSE SCREENED OUT AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

WOULD BE RUN BY FULL-TIME CSD STAFF (IE NOT THE TEMPORARY STAFF

NOW EMPLOYED TO RUN THE CLOSED CENTRES) WE RECOGNISE THE POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT PROBLEM INVOLVED. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE NEW POLICY SUCCEEDS IN STOPPING OR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE FLOW, THE

NUMBERS INVOLVED MAY NOT BE TOO GREAT.

3. I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE PRESENTATIONAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN

SELLING ANY NEW POLICY TO INTERNATIONAL OPINION. NEVERTHELESS, WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE HAVE IN MOND WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE

CONSENSUS REACHED AT THE ICG MEETING IN OTTAWA. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN

SPECIFICALLY INFORMED (MY TELNO 1743) THAT THE AUSTRALIANS WOULD

SUPPORT THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH A POLICY.

4. I AM CONVENING A MEETING ON 12 MAY TO GO OVER A DRAFT EXCO

MEMORANDUM AND TO CONSIDER IN MORE DETAIL THE TIMING OF THE

VARIOUS STEPS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY BEFORE A NEW POLICY IS INTRODUCED, INCLUDING INFORMING UNHCR AND THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. I SHOULD THEREFORE BE IN A POSITION TO TELEGRAPH

FURTHER ON 13 MAY. IN THE MEANTIME, ANY FURTHER INDICATION OF MINISTERS' VIEWS WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.

5. ON REFLECTION I CONSIDER THAT THE CODENAME BEETLE FOR THIS

OPERATION COULD BE MISCONSTRUED. IT HAS THEREFORE BEEN CHANGED

TO WATCHMAN.

WILSON

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LEGAL ADVISERS

PS

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

MR FIFOOT

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