CONFIDENTIAL
156571
80
MDLIAN
IF THE VIETNAMESE INSIST ON PRIOR INFORMATION ABOUT POLICE NUMBER WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE JUNE AGREEMENT. MY ADVICE IS THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO REDUCE THE IMPRESSION OF FORCE AT EVERY STAGE OF THE OPERATION. WE SHOULD FOR INSTANCE USE BUSES RATHER THAN TRUCKS, CIVILIANS RATHER THATN UNIFORMED
PERSONNEL.
5. IN PARAGRAPH 5(B) OF MY TELNO 687 I REFERRED TO THE ALLEGATION OF A PROMISE TO THE RETURNEES ON 12 DECEMBER THAT THEY WOULD
BE MET AT THE AIRPORT OR ON THE AIRCRAFT BY VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. WHEN I ASKED THE MOST PROMINENT OF THE RETURNEES WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE WELCOMED THE PRESENCE OF VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS AT THE HONG KONG END OF THE OPERATION, HE SAID THAT HE AND THE OTHERS IN HIS GROUP WOULD INDEED HAVE BEEN GLAD TO SEE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS AS THEIR PRESENCE WOULD HAVE REASSURED THEM THAT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WERE NOT ONLY PREPARED TO LET THEM BACK BUT WOULD BE MAKING PROPER ARRANGEMENTS TO RECEIVE THEM. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING IN THIS. THERE ARE OBVIOUS RISKS BUT IT MAY WELL BE THE SORT OF SUGGESTION THE VIETNAMESE WILL COME UP WITH IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND I THINK WE SHOULD CLEAR OUR MINDS ABOUT IT NOW. I AM INCLINED TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT IT.
6. THE VIETNAMESE HAVE ALREADY SUGGESTED THAT THE FUNDS BE PAID OVER IN HANOI RATHER THAN LONDON. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE DO SO: I WOULD PREFER TO GIVE A CHEQUE TO THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND GET A RECEIPT ON THE SPOT.
DAVIES
FCO PSE PASS HONG KONG
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
65
ΜΑΙΝ
63
VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
PAGE
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR BLATHERWICK
MR MCLAREN
MR MOSS
2
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