TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 173

SECRET

HKB 24319

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3277

OF 03113OZ OCTOBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

286

034501

MDHIAN 8963

TOP COPY a?

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD AND COLVIN, SEAD FROM GOVERNOR

HANOI PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

UKMIS GENEVA PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

277)

HANOI TELNOS 510 AND 513: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

AND A

1. I ACCEPT HMA HANOI'S JUDGEMENT THAT WE HAVE LITTLE TO GAIN

GOOD DEAL TO LOOSE FROM GIVING THE VIETNAMESE A WARNING THAT WE

INTEND TO USE QUOTE NORMAL INTERNATIONAL PROCEDURES UNQUOTE. HOWEVER, WE MUST BE READY TO DEFEND OUR ACTIONS TO THE VIETNAMESE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. WE WILL PROVIDE A DEFENSIVE BRIEF FOR USE WITH THE VIETNAMESE AND OTHERS AS A PART OF OUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE

RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP.

2. ON OUR OFFER OF ASSISTANCE WITH MONITORING, I AM OF COURSE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THE AMBASSADOR'S ADVICE THAT WE SHOULD SEE HOW THINGS GO

WITH THE FIRST GROUP. WE SHALL ALL NO DOUBT WISH THEN TO CONSIDER HOW ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE IMPROVED. ON THE AMBASSADOR'S LAST POINT IN FIRST TUR, THE POSITION IS THAT THE OFFICIAL WE HAVE IDENTIFIED

FOR A SECONDMENT TO HANOI WAS CLEARED UP TO U K SECRET DURING HIS

SERVICE WITH THE HKG. HE LEFT HIS POST HERE IN MAY 1988. WE ASSUME

THAT HIS VETTING STATUS IS STILL VALID.

WILSON

YYYY

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