TNAG-1797-FCO40-2557-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 71

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

OF 01084OZ NOVEMBER 88

TELNO 4030

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI,

888

CONFIDENTIAL

MKA 243/8

076273 MDHIAN 9732

:

my

PEKING

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:

REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS

1. THE SING PO DAILY NEWS HAS TODAY RUN AS ITS MAIN STORY A REPORT

THAT A VIETNAMESE TEAM WILL VISIT HONG KONG TO DISCUSS REPATRIATION

ARRANGEMENTS FOR VBP. THE REPORT STATES QUOTE A VIETNAMESE OFFICIAL

DELEGATION WILL VISIT HONG KONG TO DISCUSS DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR

THE REPATRIATION OF BOAT PEOPLE. WHILE IN HONG KONG THE DELEGATION

WILL MEET WITH OFFICIALS OF THE UNHCR, VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND

VISIT THE CAMPS UNQUOTE. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO REPORT THAT THERE

WILL ALSO BE MEETINGS WITH HKG OFFICIALS. A TRANSLATION OF THE FULL

TEXT OF THE ARTICLE FOLLOWS BY FAX.

2. IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER PRESS ENQUIRIES WE HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT

CONFIRMING THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE REQUESTED A TECHNICAL LEVEL VISIT

TO HONG KONG AS PART OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF THE

FIRST GROUP OF VBP. WE HAVE EXPLAINED THAT WE HAVE NOT MADE A

DECISION ON THIS REQUEST. IF THE VISIT TAKES PLACE IT WOULD BE VERY

MUCH AT A TECHNICAL LEVEL AND WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH DOCUMENTATION

FOR PEOPLE RETURNING TO VIETNAM. THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WOULD NOT

VISIT THE CAMPS AND WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO MEET SENIOR HKG

OFFICIALS. ANY SUCH VISIT WOULD NOT BE A THIRD ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

BUT SIMPLY A PART OF THE REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY AGREED.

3. THE POLITICAL ADVISER WILL BRIEF NCNA OFFICIALS WHEN THEY CALL ON

HIM ON ANOTHER MATTER TODAY.

4. YOU MAY WISH TO AUTHORISE PEKING TO DRAW ON THIS MATERIAL IF THE

CHINESE RAISE THE QUESTION.

WILSON

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