TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 208

Mr Paul, HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 243 19

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

From: A R Brenton

United Nations Dept

Date: 17 August 1989

CC:Mr Gillmore

Mr Haswell,

HKD

269

Mr Whitehead, News Dept PS/Mr Maude PS/Lord Brabazon

199

1.

I have seen Mr Haswell's interesting minute of 15 August.

198

are

2. I find it difficult to resist the feeling that our search for "acquiescent non volunteers" is leading us up a blind alley. It has, however, as Mr Haswell points out, brought us to what in both political and practical terms is undoubtedly/the key questions we prepared to use force? Hong Kong (telno 2719) are - although they do not explain how we could justify to public opinion the use of the word 'acquiescent' to describe VBPS who have to be frogmarched into police wagons. I very much share Mr Haswell's view that the disadvantages in terms of UK and world public opinion, the US, UNHCR and so on mean that we should firmly and explicitly rule out the use of force at least for the present. By so doing we must substantially improve the chances of our reaching some sort of agreement with the US following Mr Gillmore's talks there earlier this week, and that in turn could open the way to greater cooperation from Mr Hocké on the monitoring of returned VBPS.

3. I would add two other points:

(a) I am not sure that a letter to Mr Hocké, as we are currently

contemplating, would by itself be much use. We should surely be aiming for a Minister to have a good go at persuading him in person after we have followed up the progress Mr Gillmore has made with the Americans. Any letter could point the way towards such a meeting.

(b) I very much share Mr Haswell's view that we should be doing more to tackle Hong Kong public opinion, rather than simply bending to it. It may be that this is already happening, but I see no evidence of it in the telegrams.

ARRE

MONACS

CONFIDENTIAL

AR BRENTON