TNAG-1908-FCO40-2712-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 99

Mr Colvin SEAD

SECRET

From: APS/Mr Maude

Date: 24 November 1989

HKB

243/9

cc: Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren Mr Paul,

HKD

(398

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1.

397

Mr Maude has seen Hong Kong telegrams numbers 3875 and 3876. He agrees with your advice that we should instruct Hanoi to try for the earlier dates (5 or 6 December) but go snap on the later dates if necessary. Mr Maude also agrees that we should emphasise to the Vietnamese our strong concerns about confidentiality. He thinks it absolutely essential that we keep the dates from the UNHCR.

He

2. Mr Maude is uncomfortable about having to give evidence on VBP on 13 December if we have to go for the later date. thinks, however, that we would come under strong criticism afterwards from the FAC if it looked as if we had changed the date of the session because of the repatriation exercise.

Valerie Ewan

RM 27/11

Miss Marsden Mr Stone ~ 22/11 Mr Haswell 28/11

W 241.

Valerie Ewan

Assistant Private Secretary to Mr Francis Maude

SECRET

416