CONFIDENTIAL
19 OCT 1989
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HKB 243 19
FROM: C C D Haswell
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 19 October 1989
CC:
PS/Lord Brabazon
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
LPS/Mr Maude
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Crabbie, RMD
319
A
B
1. The breakdown/suspension of SC3, coupled with the difficulty the
Hong Kong authorities are having in getting together a
credibly-sized group of non-volunteers for repatriation, leaves us
in something of a quandary, with no date decided on for our next action and no real confidence that Hong Kong can deliver if we do set such a date. At Mr Maude's meeting on 18 October I suggested a course of action we might follow while we decide how to proceed on
mandatory repatriation. I am setting out the basic elements of this again for consideration.
243/10 (252
2. The voluntary programme is in a muddle. According to the latest
report (HK telno 3438) there are 941 volunteers (including 6
refugees), not including those who have withdrawn their applications
(who total another 317). The running of the voluntary programme is in the hands of UNHCR, who with their usual deft organisational
skill have managed to confuse the dates and the lists for the next
two groups of volunteers. There should already have been two
flights this month returning over 230 people. Neither has yet
happened, although the first is now set for 20 October; a gently exasperated HK telno misc 805 to Hanoi reveals that UNHCR have confused the second yet again.
(320
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