TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 109

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM WASHINGTON

TO DESKBY 15083OZ FCO

TELNO 2178

OF 15040OZ AUGUST 89

CONFIDENTIAL

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243 19

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MDHIAN 2160

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

HONG KONG TELNO 2719: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1. I NOTE THE ARGUMENTS IN TUR FOR GETTING ON WITH REPATRIATION OF NON-VOLUNTEERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN SEPTEMBER. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE SUGGESTION IN PARAS 7 AND 8 THAT IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO USE A DEGREE OF PHYSICAL COERCION POSES A VERY

SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR US HERE.

2. WE HAVE ASSURED THE AMERICANS FREQUENTLY AND AT ALL LEVELS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION OF FORCIBLE REPATRIATION (EG SIR G HOWE TO BAKER IN PARIS ON 14 JUNE: QUOTE WE WERE NOT FORCING PEOPLE TO RETURN BUT WERE USING ALL THE ARGUMENTS AT OUR COMMAND TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THE ONLY CHOICE WAS TO GO BACK UNQUOTE PARIS TELNO 938 AND THE PUS TO AMBASSADOR CATTO ON 11 JULY: QUOTE WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT FORCIBLE REPATRIATION

UNQUOTE FCO TELNO 1288 TO WASHINGTON). THE AMBASSADOR AND I HAVE TAKEN A SIMILAR LINE WITH EAGLEBURGER, KIMMITT, SELIN AND OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, IN PRIVATE DISCUSSION WITH CONGRESSMEN.

·

AND

ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE DIFFERING DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES QUOTE FORCIBLE REPATRIATION UNQUOTE, THE AMERICANS WILL CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN IT FROM OUR ASSURANCES THAT WE WOULD NOT INTEND TO USE ANY KIND OF PHYSICAL PRESSURE IN THE REPATRIATION PROCESS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE HAD TO RESORT TO THE MEASURES DESCRIBED IN PARAS 7 AND 8 OF TUR THE AMERICANS WOULD REGARD THIS AS A BREACH OF OUR ASSURANCES IN THIS RESPECT, AND WE COULD EXPECT A VERY SHARP REACTION WHEN NEWS LEAKED (AS IT SURELY WOULD).

4. I RECOGNISE ALL THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY HONG KONG. BUT WE SHOULD BE UNDER NO ILLUSION ABOUT THE OUTCRY WE WOULD FACE HERE. IT WOULD AT THE LEAST BRING TO AN END ANY AMERICAN HELP IN TRYING TO DEFINE THE QUOTE GREY AREA UNQUOTE BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AND FORCIBLE REPATRIATION.

FALL

YYYY