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TELNO 3466
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INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, KUALA LUMPUR INFO IMMEDIATE UKDEL KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMPUR FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY
WASHINGTON PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG UKMIS GENEVA PLEASE PASS URGENTLY TO MCLAREN
313
YOUR TELNO 2093 VBP REPATRIATION
1.
BEFORE WE ABANDON THE IDEA OF SENDING BACK 14 VBP IN THE
FIRST GROUP I AM SURE MINISTERS WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SO DOING AS SEEN FROM HERE.
2.
THE PRESENT ATMOSPHERE IN THE CAMPS IS EXTREMELY TENSE.
SOME VBPS ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE. THERE ARE LARGE BANNERS OBJECTING
TO FORCIBLE REPATRIATION AND REGULAR PROTEST MEETINGS ARE
BEING HELD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KNOWN TROUBLE MAKERS. ALL
THIS IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE GENEVA CONFERENCE IN THE EXPECTATION THAT MAJOR NEWS, GOOD OR BAD, WILL EMERGE FROM IT.
3.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE HAVE CONSIDERED MOST CAREFULLY
POSSIBILITY OF MOVING 50 FROM CHI MA WAN TODAY AND I HAVE
TO ADVISE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE RISK OF
THE
A MAJOR INCIDENT THERE. ALL VBPS HAVE TOTAL FREEDOM TO MOVE ABOUT
THE CAMP DURING DAY-LIGHT HOURS. THERE ARE 1420 IN CHI MA WAN UPPER CAMP, OF WHICH 778 HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT. TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THE 50, ROUND THEM UP AND REMOVE THEM TODAY WILL, IN THE JUDGMENT OF CSD AND POLICE STAFF PROVOKE A MAJOR INCIDENT.
THERE IS NO QUESTION OF CARRYING OUT THIS MOVE UNDER THE
GUISE OF A ROUTINE THINNING OUT EXERCISE. THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE
CAMP IS SO HIGHLY CHARGED THAT VBPS WILL IMMEDIATELY AND CERTAIN-
LY SEE THROUGH ANY SUCH DECEPTION. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE LAST TIME WE TRIED TO MOVE THESE PEOPLE THEY BARRICADED THEMSELVES
INTO THEIR HUTS AND THREATENED TO SET FIRE TO THEM.
THE EARLIEST I BELIEVE WE CAN ATTEMPT SUCH AN OPERATION IS
VERY EARLY TOMORROW MORNING WHILST ALL VBPS ARE STILL LOCKED IN
THEIR ROOMS. BUT IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT EVEN THEN THE MOVE
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