TNAG-1909-FCO40-2713-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 136

SECRET

HKB

243 19

482

104476 MDHIAN 8503

SECRET

FM HANOI

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 110

OF 11030OZ DECEMBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, UKMIS GENEVA AND WASHINGTON

(PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)

/(419)

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

YOUR TELNO MISC 886: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1. IN RESPONSE TO AN URGENT REQUEST FROM THE VIETNAMESE FOR DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT, I GAVE THEM THE DETAILS, SUITABLY AMENDED, OF THE FLIGHT ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR 5 DECEMBER (YOUR TELNO 3838). FORTUNATELY, THESE COINCIDED WITH THE

DETAILS IN YOUR TUR. I OF COURSE LEFT OUT THE NUMBER OF

PASSENGERS. THESE MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY WHEN I CALL ON

LE THO AT HIS REQUEST.

>

2. WE MAY HOWEVER BY VERY LUCKY. IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER

INTERESTED PARTIES (EG THE VISITING IMMIGRATION COUNSELLOR FROM THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY IN BANGKOK), THE VIETNAMESE HAVE STRESSED THEIR DESIRE THAT THIS FIRST FLIGHT SHOULD GO SMOOTHLY.

THEY MAY THEREFORE AVOID POSING ANY QUESTIONS WHICH ARE

LIKELY TO PRODUCE DIFFICULT ANSWERS.

3. ON THE PARTICULAR POINT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF POLICEMEN ON THE THE AIRCRAFT, YOU KNOW MY VIEWS (MY TELNO 652): I NOTE HOWEVER THAT LORD BRABAZON EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE DEBATE ON 6 DECEMBER THAT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WILL FIND THESE (PROCEDURES)

UNOBJECTIONABLE.

4. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHO THE SENIOR SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIAL WILL BE. THE EMBASSY STAFF AT THE AIRPORT WILL BE MYSELF, PETER WHITEHEAD AND LOUISE FOXWELL.

DAVIES

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