CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1511
OF 151835Z JUNE 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
322
140242
MDHIAN 3525
YOUR TELNO 161 TO UKMIS GENEVA:
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. WE HAVE TOLD STATE OF THE CHANGES MADE TO THE TEXT OF THE WARNING NOTICE TO BE GIVEN TO NEW ARRIVALS, AND TO THE MESSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN MAIL TO VIETNAM. WE EMPHASISED THAT WE HAD TAKEN THE
AMERICAN POINTS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND THE CHANGES REFLECTED OUR WISH TO MEET THEIR CONCERNS. IT REMAINED IMPORTANT, FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE CONCERNED, THAT THE MESSAGES SHOULD BE FIRMLY WORDED IN
ORDER TO HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT. WE ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW POLICY IN HONG KONG AND THE UK WOULD
EMPHASISE THAT ALL ARRIVALS WOULD BE SCREENED ACCORDING TO UNHCR
GUIDELINES, WITH THE RIGHT OF APPEAL ETC.
2.
STATE WERE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THIS. THEY HAD HAD A REPORT FROM HONG KONG OVERNIGHT, AND THEY AGREED THAT THE NEW TEXTS WERE AN IMPROVEMENT. THEY WERE NOW ISSUING PRESS GUIDANCE TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TO ENABLE HIM TO REFLECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE
NEW POLICY. SEE MIFT. THIS WOULD BE FOR USE ON AN IF ASKED
BASIS TODAY, BUT IF NO QUESTIONS AROSE STATE WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE GUIDANCE WAS FORMALLY RELEASED. THEY WOULD
ALSO GO AHEAD WITH THEIR ATTEMPTS TO ENLIST VOA'S HELP.
3.
STATE SAID THEY NEVERTHELESS STILL HAD ONE REAL POINT OF
DIFFICULTY WITH THE TEXT OF THE NOTLCE FOR NEW ARRIVALS. THEY CAND
THEY BELIEVED UNHCR) WERE DISTRESSED TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO
EXPLICIT REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE REFUGEES WOULD BE SCREENED. THE POINT WAS SUBSUMED IN THE LAST SENTENCE, BUT UNLESS
IT WAS MADE CLEAR THE MESSAGE RISKED GIVING A FALSE IMPRESSION.
STATE THEREFORE URGED US TO SEE WHETHER A FURTHER AMENDMENT COULD
BE MADE. THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE UNHCR MIGHT BE MAKING THE
SAME POINT TO US.
SEE MIFT.
ACLAND
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