TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 19

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 03010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1427

OF 02180OZ JUNE 88

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

CONFIDENTIAL

222

HUD 243/8

075112

MDHOAN 7288

NIT

TOP COPY

DIST ?

UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 304 AND TELECON HUM/BARNES: VIETNAMESE BOAT

PEOPLE: UNHCR REACTION

1. OUR REACTION AT OFFICIAL LEVEL IS THAT IT IS SIMPLY NOT FEASIBLE TO DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF OPERATION WATCHMAN AS UNHCR

WOULD WISH US TO DO. WE ASSUME THAT YOU SHARE THAT VIEW.

YOU CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER

AND OF COURSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF A

VIETNAMESE RESPONSE TO UNHCR EVEN THEN. WITH THE MAIN SEASON FOR ARRIVALS JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUSANDS MORE BOAT

PEOPLE ON YOUR HANDS BY THEN.

AHEAD.

FORTHCOMING

2. ACCORDINGLY, AND FOLLOWING TELECON UNDER REFERENCE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO MINISTERS THAT YOU HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO GO

IT WILL HOWEVER BE NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN OUR DECISION VERY

CAREFULLY TO UNHCR AND SEEK TO SECURE THEIR ACQUIESCENCE. 3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR COMMENTS DESKBY 030900Z, ENABLE US TO STICK TO OUR TIMETABLE FOR MINISTERIAL

CONSIDERATION.

TO

HOWE

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ΜΑΙΝ

40

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

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DISTRIBUTION

40

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

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