TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

an

021677 MDHOAN 1618

TELNO 292 REFERS).

10.

MINISTERS REALISE THE RISKS INVOLVED IN DELAYING PROGRESS ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION AT THIS STAGE, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY THAT PRESSURE TO ABANDON FIRST ASYLUM WILL MOUNT. BUT THEY JUDGE THAT THESE ARE OUTWEIGHED BY THE DANGER OF TRYING TO PROCEED

TOO QUICKLY WITH THE REPATRIATION EXERCISE AND FAILING. THE

CONSEQUENCES OF THAT FOR HONG KONG, NOT TO MENTION THE UK, WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS. THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF AMENDING THE

POLICY IN ANY WAY. BUT THEY FEEL THAT WE NEED MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THE PREPARATIONS IF WE ARE TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESS.

11. WE ARE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS TO HANOI ON THE

LINE TO TAKE WITH THE VIETNAMESE.

MAJOR

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

110

DISTRIBUTION

117

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PUSD

ECD (E)

FED

NAD

NEWS

INFO D

FINANCE D

RMD

PS

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/MR SAINSBURY

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR MCLAREN

ADDITIONAL

7

MR W REEVES CABINET OFFICE

MR MACHIN ODA 2 COPIES

MR G-HARRISON ODA

MR FLESHER B1 DIV HO LUNAR HSE

HKGO LONDON

MRS B FAIR VSU QUEEN ANNES GTE CHOME OFFICE)

N N N N

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