TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 143

(iv)

Three points:

a) Journalists should not be allowed to witness the actual departure from Hong Kong. This is defensible: journalists do not normally witness deportations (the Hong Kong

journalists will accept this more readily than outsiders).

But we should formally announce the repatriation immediately

after it has taken place.

b) Monitoring in Vietnam will be the weak link. We must try

to get something in place. The BRC in the absence of the UNHCR would be acceptable. Monitoring by the British

Embassy alone will not carry conviction, although it is important that HMG should show itself determined to keep the Vietnamese up to the mark. We should be ready to say that we hope that anyone interested, including journalists, will

go and see the situation for themselves.

c) Vietnamese acquiescence and the degree of US opposition will crucially affect media reactions.

The first PQS (? 25 October)

The media will, to some extent, take their cue from

reactions in Parliament. It would be helpful if Ministers

could mobilise support on the back benches. Must we assume

that the Opposition will be automatically critical?

IW2ADM/4.10.89