TNAG-1908-FCO40-2712-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 114

SECRET

SECRET

409

037325 MDHIAN 6187

HKB 2+3/9

Q DIST ?

FM HANOI

TO

IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 635

OF 270505Z NOVEMBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON

CHONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)

YOUR TELNO 393: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1. I CALLED ON LE THO OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING

AND EMPHASISED THE NEED TO ARRANGE THE FIRST FLIGHT EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER (IE 5 OR 6 DECEMBER RATHER THAN 14 DECEMBER).

HE REPEATED THAT THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT BUT PROMISED TO SPEAK

WITH THE INTERIOR MINISTRY (NGUYEN CAN) URGENTLY.

2. ON PUBLICITY, IT EMERGED THAT A MEMBER OF CONSULAR DEPARTMENT WAS INSTRUCTED LAST WEEK TO SPEAK WITH UNHCR HERE ABOUT THE

PROBABLE CONFLICT OF FLIGHTS ON 14 DECEMBER. I EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY.

3. ON PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RETURNEES, CONSULAR DEPARTMENT NOW ADMIT THAT THEY DID INDEED RECEIVE THEM FROM US SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND

AGREE THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR MORE.

4. AGREED MINUTE (AS AMENDED BY YOUR TELNO 389) WAS SIGNED ON 22 NOVEMBER. COPIES IN BAG.

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.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

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