TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 177

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 03090OZ FCO

TELNO 3265

OF 03083OZ OCTOBER 89

SECRET

HKB

243

σ

284

014754 MDHIAN 8135

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

1279

YOUR TELNO 1983: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

BECAUSE WE

WE ARE COMING UNDER A NUMBER OF SEPARATE TIME CONSTRAINTS.

HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM A FIRM BOOKING AND DRAGONAIR NOW HAVE ALTERNATIVE BOOKINGS FOR THE DATES IN QUESTION, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST THE PROVISIONAL BOOKING MADE FOR A CHARTER FLIGHT IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 22 OCTOBER. PROVISIONAL BOOKINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON 31 OCTOBER AND 3 NOVEMBER. THE LATTER DATE IS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT TO THE ROYAL VISIT (7-9 NOVEMBER). 31 OCTOBER IS THEREFORE THE ONLY PRACTICAL OPTION UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF NOVEMBER AFTER THE PRINCE OF WALES' VISIT. DELAY UNTIL AFTER THE ROYAL VISIT WILL OF COURSE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE HERE FOR AN ENDING OF FIRST

ASYLUM (SEE SPEARATE TELEGRAM COMMENTING ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEAKING NOTE).

3. A FURTHER TIMING CONSTRAINT IS THAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE SAID THEY

REQUIRE 14 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE THE FIRST INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.

4. WITH SC3 TAKING PLACE ON 16 AND 17 NOVEMBER THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM IF MINISTERS DECIDE TO TAKE A FIRM DECISION ONLY AFTER SC3. THEY WOULD PRESUMABLY REQUIRE TIME TO DIGEST THE RESULTS BEFORE DOING SO.

5. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD GET AHEAD WITH THIS FIRST OPERATION IN ADVANCE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE HERE BUILDING UP AGAIN TO A FEVER PITCH. I SHOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO PLAN ON THE BASIS OF 31 OCTOBER FOR THE FIRST INVOLUNTARY RETURNS. THIS WOULD MEAN GIVING HANOI NOTICE IMMEDIATELY AT THE END OF SC3 ON 17 OCTOBER. TO ACHIEVE THIS I RECOMMEND THAT MINISTERS SHOULD GIVE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THIS ARRANGEMENT TO BE PUT IN PLACE SUBJECT IF NECESSARY TO A JUDGEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT THE PROCEEDINGS OF SC3.

ARE NO CAUSE FOR CHANGING THIS DECISION.

6. THE APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE TO SET THE DATE WOULD PROBABLY BEST BE MADE IN HANOI TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF A LEAK IN THE MORE

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