TNAG-1906-FCO40-2710-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

HK3

24319

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1736

OF 18220OZ AUGUST 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA

215

(217)

041517 MDHOAN 1999

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM PAUL

YOUR TELNO 2719: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1

WE WILL BE SEEKING TO GAIN MAXIMUM ADVANTAGE FROM POSTPONING THE REPATRIATION OF THE FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEER NON- REFUGEES. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM TELEGRAMS THAT WE ARE EMBARKED ON A COURSE OF EXCHANGES WITH THE AMERICANS TO TRY TO WIN THEIR

WE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO. SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE MAKING IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT TIME AND PATIENCE ARE RUNNING OUT IN HONG KONG AND THAT THE SITUATION THERE MAY FORCE US INTO TAKING ACTION WITH OR WITHOUT THE SANCTION OF THE PRINCIPAL PLAYERS IN THE CPA PROCESS. 2. WE WELL UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES YOU ARE HAVING IN

AND IDENTIFYING THE FIRST GROUP OF QUOTE ACQUIESCENTS UNQUOTE, THAT WITHOUT A MANDATE TO USE SOME DEGREE OF PHYSICAL PERSUASION, THE CHANCES OF ACHIEVING A SUCCESSFUL FIRST REPATRIATION EXERCISE ARE LOW. BUT AS WE SEE IT THE USE OF FORCE, OF ANY KIND, SUCH A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE GENEVA REVIEW MEETING IS LIKELY TO PROVOKE A DEGREE OF CENSURE AND INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION WHICH COULD EFFECTIVELY HINDER THE SUBSEQUENT RETURN OF FURTHER GROUPS OF NON-VOLUNTEERS.

3.

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SEE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DELAY BEYOND EARLY SEPTEMBER. IF THIS MEANS THAT A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY HAS CLOSED, WE WILL NEED TO WEIGH UP VERY CAREFULLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FOR YOU AND HOW THE EFFECTS IN HONG KONG OF DELAY CAN BE ATTENUATED. WE WILL NEED TO DECIDE ON A STRATEGY BETWEEN NOW AND THE REVIEW MEETING TO TRY TO BRING THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS ROUND TO OUR

POSITION ON REPATRIATION.

CHALKER

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL