N
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY HANOI
TELNO 18
OF 011105Z JUNE 88
INFO ROUTINE FCO
них
HUD 243/8
SECRET
214
17
070675
MDLIAN 1649
TOP COPY
DIST ?
216
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : YOUR TELNO 26 AND FCO TELNO 1398
WE ARE SORRY TO HAVE USED A CODENAME WHICH YOU WERE NOT AWARE OF. OPERATION WATCHMAN REFERS TO OUR PROPOSED CHANGE IN POLICY ON THE TREATMENT OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG.
2. WE WILL BE PROVIDING DETAILED BACKGROUND AND A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE (AS REQUESTED IN 2ND TUR) NEARER THE TIME AFTER MINISTERS HAVE REACHED A DECISION ON THE NEW POLICY. BRIEFLY THE PROPOSAL IS TO TREAT ALL BOAT ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM FROM A CURRENT DATE AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SUBJECT TO A SCREENING PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY OF THEM QUALIFY FOR REFUGEE STATUS UNDER UNHCR
GUIDELINES.
3. THE TIMING OF YOUR CALL ON THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ON 14 JUNE WAS PROPOSED IN THE CONTEXT OF OTHER PLANS FOR DIPLOMATIC ACTION ON WHICH WE SHALL SHORTLY BE CONSULTING FCO. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE MEANT THAT YOU COULD SAY ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG (ON THE ACTUAL PROPOSED DAY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATION WATCHMAN) THAT YOU HAD PERSONALLY PUT THE MESSAGE ACROSS TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. (WE AGREE (2ND TUR) THAT A MEETING ON 13 JUNE WOULD DO AS WELL, WHEREAS THE PLANNED CALL ON 9 JUNE WOULD BE TOO SOON.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
25
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
25
SEAD
MR MCLAREN
PAGE 1 SECRET
Page 30Page 31
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.