TNAG-1798-FCO40-2558-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 119

CONFIDENTIAL

ZCZC

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

TELNO

OF 241310Z NOVEMBER 88

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

IMMEDIATE

YOUR TELNO 425:

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG

1. We are suspicious of Tin's motives in reverting to his earlier claim (your tel 406) that at the second round of talks, in London, we had promised bilateral assistance.

2.

Although Partridge seems at last to have got the message

through to Tin, the latter's reference to confusion and

problem-making on the part of the Ministry of Labour and local authorities suggests that it would be of value to ensure that our position is well and truly understood in order to minimise the risks of either further confusion or even of later allegations of bad faith on our party. We should therefore be grateful if you would take an early opportunity to raise Tin's remarks on instructions, and clarify our position as follows.

3.

McLaren made it clear during the second round of talks that

we were prepared to contemplate a modest scheme for reintegration assistance but that it would have to be limited in scope and developed under the auspices of UNHCR. Khoan reacted by saying

that the amount could be discussed in due course but did not

question the channel (FCO telno 2659).

MR2AGL

SEAD

A GODSON

IT

2450