CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 243/a
109
123454
MDHIAN 3267
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 458
OF 141059Z JULY 1989
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, WASHINGTON
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
(TO1) 1506
YOUR TELNOS 1505 AND 1506 TO HONG KONG:
REPATRIATION: PRESENTATIONAL ASPECTS
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. WITH REFERENCE TO SUGGESTED PRESENTATIONAL ASPECTS SET OUT IN TURS, I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS.
2. FIRST, WE SHOULD UNDERLINE WITH THE MEDIA THAT UNHCR HAVE HAD ACCESS TO ALL CONCERNED AFTER NOTIFICATION THAT THEY HAD BEEN FINALLY SCREENED OUT (SEE MY TELNO 445). WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT
USING THE POINT THAT SUCH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE FIRST APPEALS WERE FINALLY DISPOSED OF ONLY IN JUNE 1989, AND UNHCR ARE LIKELY TO ARGUE THAT IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FEW VOLUNTEERS SO FAR.
3. SECOND, WHILE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO MAKE EARLY PROGRESS, I CONSIDER IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO DELAY REPATRIATION OF THE FIRST GROUP UNTIL AFTER THE STEERING COMMITTEE IN BANGKOK ON 24/25 JULY. THIS WOULD AVOID THE RISK OF THE AMERICANS MAKING A FUSS AT THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, AND HELP NEUTRALISE ANY UNHCR CRITICISM THAT THEY HAD HAD INADEQUATE TIME TO COUNSEL THE RETURNEES.
4. THIRD, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO BRIEF UNHCR HERE, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OR SECRETARIAT IN NEW YORK, AS WELL AS ASEAN AND ICG CAPITALS FOR THE REASONS SET OUT IN OUR TELNO 436.
5. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO TRY TO PUT PRESSURE ON UNHCR TO AVOID INTEMPERATE PUBLIC COMMENTS. BUT AS REPORTED IN OUR TELNO 445, HOCKE'S ATTITUDE IS FIRM AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DISSUADE UNHCR FROM CRITISM IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS AMERICAN (AND POSSIBLY FRENCH) BACKING.
SANKEY
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.