SECRET
134
SECRET
166526
MDHIAN 8443
HKD 243/8
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 061300Z FCO
TELNO 1709
OF 061045Z MAY 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
122
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 1118: AND MY TELNO 1698
132
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: OPERATION BEETLE
1 I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MINISTERS HAVE SHOWN
OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE FACE AND THE URGENT NEED TO TAKE A
HARD LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE POLICY OPTIONS.
2. AS REPORTED IN SECOND TUR, THE SITUATION CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. WE ARE NOW FACING REAL PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH THE INFLUX OF ARRIVALS. THE STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT THE NUMBERS REACHING HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE MAKES IT IMPORTANT
THAT WE SHOULD CARRY OUT OUR STUDY WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE
SPEED.
3. WE HAVE NOW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER OR PROPOSED NEW POLICY IN GREATER DETAIL. THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OVER SITES, STAFFING AND FUNDING. WE ARE CONSIDERING THESE URGENTLY. BUT I AM FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT DESPITE THESE WE WILL NEED, FOR BOTH PRACTICAL AND DOMESTIC POLITICAL REASONS, TO INTRODUCE SOON A SYSTEM OF SCREENING OUT GENUINE REFUGEES AND DETAINING THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY UNDER THIS PROCESS AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PENDING THEIR EVENTUAL REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM.
4. STRICTLY FOR INTERNAL PLANNING PURPOSES I HAVE SET A TARGET OF
THE MIDDLE OF JUNE FOR BEING READY TO INTRODUCE THE NEW POLICY TO BE KNOWN AS OPERATION BEETLE, IF APPROVED. THIS WOULD GIVE THE
FOLLOWING TIMETABLE:
(A) ON 24 MAY, I WOULD SEEK EXCO'S ADVICE ON WHETHER WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAN ON THE BASIS OF A CHANGE IN POLICY. EXCO WOULD
BE GIVEN A PAPER SETTING OUT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE VARIOUS OPTIONS, WITH AN OUTLINE DESCRIPTION OF HOW WE WOULD ENVISAGE OPERATING THE PROPOSED NEW POLICY:
(B) ON 30-31 MAY, THE SECRETART OF STATE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
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