TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 109

CONFIDENTIAL

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3+6

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HANOI

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 93

OF 18060OZ OCTOBER 89

NKB 24319

INFO PRIORITY FCO AND UKMIS GENEVA

066305

MDHIAN 0381

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION OF VOLUNTEERS

1. THE DUPLICATED CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION ARE AGAIN CAUSING CONFUSION WITH REGARD TO THE GROUP EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON 20 OCTOBER. UNHCR HERE ARE EXPECTING 115 VBP, WHEREAS THE FIGURE WE HAVE FROM YOU IS 121. CONSULAR DEPARTMENT TOLD UNHCR THAT THIS EMBASSY WAS AWARE OF THE NAMES OF THE 121: WE ARE NOT. UNHCR HAVE A NAME LIST OF THEIR 115 BUT ITS ACCURACY IS NOW IN QUESTION. THEY HAVE TELEXED UNHCR HONG KONG TO CHECK.

2. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD SORT OUT IDENTICAL NAME LISTS AND IDENTICAL NUMBERS WITH UNHCR HONG KONG.

3. ACTING UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE HERE HAS SUGGESTED THAT UNHCR

CHANNELS SHOULD IN FUTURE BE USED AS THE PRIME CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATIONS. GIVEN THE GREATER STRENGTH IN ORGANISATION AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN YOU AND THIS EMBASSY, THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT. FURTHER THE VIETNAMESE MAY NOW BE TOO

ACCUSTOMED TO TRANSACTING BUSINESS VIA THE EMBASSY TO ACCEPT CHANGE. BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO KEEP UNHCR HERE AS FULLY

IN THE PICTURE AS POSSIBLE.

4. UNHCR HERE HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE AGREED WITH THE

VIETNAMESE THAT THE NEXT FLIGHT OF VOLUNTARY RETURNEES SHOULD BE ON SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER. THE GROUP WOULD AGAIN NUMBER 121.

5. UNHCR ALSO TOLD US THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAD SAID THAT THE

NEXT VISIT OF VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS TO HONG KONG WOULD TAKE PLACE

AFTER 28 OCTOBER.

WHITEHEAD

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