CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1817
OF 08170OZ JULY 88
CONFIDENTIAL
482
HKD 243/8
RECEIVE
REGISTRY
1 1 JUL 1988
036642 MDHOAN 0042
INDEA
OFFICER
PA
RES
Action
FOLLOWING STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HUM, HKD
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: VIETNAMESE PROPOSAL FOR TALKS
1.
WE HAVE TELEGRAPHED SEPARATELY ABOUT THE PRESS RELEASE
WHICH BY NOW HAS ISSUED IN HONG KONG.
2.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER THE EVENT THAT I HAD REALISED YOU
HAD IT IN MIND TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON THE HANOI RADIO
BROADCAST BY ISSUING A FORMAL PRESS RELEASE, AND IN SUCH DISTINCTLY
UPBEAT TERMS. I THINK I SHOULD RECORD THAT SOME EYEBROWS HAVE
BEEN RAISED HERE AT THE LACK OF ANY QUALIFICATION DESIGNED TO
CONVEY THE THOUGHT THAT THESE TALKS COULD BE A LONG HAUL OR COULD
COME TO NOTHING.
3.
WE UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES WHICH YOU ARE UNDER. BUT THERE
DOES SEEM TO BE SOME RISK OF AROUSING UNJUSTIFIED EXPECTATIONS
IN HONG KONG THAT FROM THE LAUNCHING OF TALKS TO THE REPATRIATION
OF BOAT PEOPLE IS A SIMPLE STEP. WE ALL RECOGNISE THAT THE
REALITY IS LIKELY TO BE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.
HOWE
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DISTRIBUTION
MR MCLAREN
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CONFIDENTIAL
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