CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
24319
(F07)
036624
MDHIAN 6143
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 33
OF 25161OZ NOVEMBER 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE FCO, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
A06
YOUR TEL MISC 870:
1.
TOP COPY Q D.SI?
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
THIS IS INACCURATE AND MISCHIEVOUS REPORTING. AT NO TIME
HAVE WE SAID OR HINTED ANYTHING TO JOURNALISTS ABOUT TIMING. NOR HAVE WE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH'S REACTIONS ON THIS
ISSUE DURING THE PRIME MINISTERS TALKS WITH HIM.
2.
AFTER THE PRIME MINISTERS PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING THE TALKS
AT CAMP DAVID (SHE TOLD THE PRESS: QUOTE WE SHALL HAVE IN FACT TO PROCEED BY SENDING SOME OTHER OF THE VBP BACK... WE REPATRIATE...
ILLEGAL CHINESE IMMIGRANTS... SO THE SAME THING WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE VBP WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES UNQUOTE). A NUMBER OF BRITISH JOURNALISTS COMMENTED TO US THAT THIS WAS THE FIRMEST ON THE RECORD STATEMENT OF HMG'S INTENTION TO SEND BACK NON VOLUNTEERS. IN REPLY
WE SIMPLY DREW ATTENTION TO MR MAJOR'S STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE ON 25 OCTOBER THAT QUOTE IT WILL SOON BE NECESSARY TO TACKLE THE THORNY
QUESTION OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION UNQUOTE. THIS WAS OUR ONLY DISSCUSSION WITH JOURNALISTS ON THIS ISSUE DURING OR SINCE THE
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.
WE ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF YOUR DIFFICULTIES OVER THIS AND SHALL
CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL IN PUBLIC COMMENT
3
ACLAND
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
111
DISTRIBUTION
119
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
RMD
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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