SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 13133OZ FCO
TELNO 3422
OF 131315Z OCTOBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
30+
SECRET
HK B
24319
coms
SAYS
NO. RECOND
310
(369)
053212
MDHIAN 9784
YOUR TELNOS 2023 AND 236: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION THAT MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT PLANNING SHOULD PROCEED FOR THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP OF
NON-VOLUNTEERS ON 31 OCTOBER. WE ARE NOW GETTING ON WITH THE NECESS-
ARY PLANS-SEE BELOW AND MIFT.
2. YOU USE THE TERM QUOTE ACQUIESCENT NON-VOLUNTEER UNQUOTE NEEDS
TO BE CLARIFIED. WE ASSUME MINISTERS ARE INFACT CLEAR THAT IN OUR ASSESSMENT, TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLE PROSPECT OF A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION THE POLICE AND CSD WILL HAVE TO BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO USE
THEIR NORMAL REPATRIATION PROCEDURES. THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THEY INVOLVE AUTHORITY TO USE THE NECESSARY MINIMUM FORCE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE OPERATION. CLEARLY, GIVEN THE PARTICULAR SENSITIVITY OF THIS OPERATION, WE WOULD WISH TO PROCEED WITH GREAT CAUTION: BUT, IF NECESSARY, THE POLICE AND CSD WILL BE AUTHORISED TO CARRY PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO MOVE ONTO THE
VEHICLES OR AIRCRAFT.
NOTIFICATION TO THE VIETNAMESE
3. THE VIETNAMESE WERE GIVEN DETAILED INFORMATION ON 140 POTENTIAL RETURNEES IN JULY AND AUGUST. THEY HAVE CLEARED ALL OF THEM FOR RETURN. OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE AGREED MINUTE IS
THAT WE MUST NOW GIVE THEM DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT AND A FINAL LIST OF
THE RETURNEES 14 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. MIFT CONTAINS THIS INFORMAT-
ION. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAND
IT OVER TO THE VIETNAMESE BY THE 17 OCTOBER DEADLINE.
FIRST GROUP OF RETURNEES
4. SIX MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF 20 VBP AT PHOENIX NOTIFIED US
YESTERDAY THAT THEY WISH TO VOLUNTEER FOR REPATRIATION. UNDER NORMAL PROCEDURES THESE APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE PROCESSED BY UNHCR. WE
CONSIDERED TENTATIVELY THE POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING THIS GROUP AT
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