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HKB 24319
457
071262
MDHIAN 7772
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
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FM HANOI
TO DESKBY 06083OZ FCO
TELNO 668
OF 06070OZ DECEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA AND WASHINGTON
CHONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)
YOUR TELNO 416: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION
1. PROVIDED THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE AT NO STAGE VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT THE FORCE
USED BY THE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IS LIMITED TO WHAT MIGHT
BE TERMED GENTLE PERSUASION EG. PHYSICALLY STEERING OUT OF THE DOOR AND DOWN THE STEPS, I THINK THE VIETNAMESE WILL ACCEPT (PERHAPS WITH A BIT OF PERSUASION) THE
SCENARIO OUTLINED IN PARA 3 OF HONG KONG TELNO 4011 TO YOU.
2.
HOWEVER, IF WE WERE TO ATTEMPT TO FORCE BY PUSHING A RESISTING RETURNEE CLEARLY AGAINST HIS WILL OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DOWN THE STEPS, I BELIEVE THE VIETNAMESE WOULD IN ALL LIKELIHOOD REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE
INDIVIDUAL AND INSIST ON RE-EMBARKATION. IF WE FOR OUR PART ATTEMPTED TO INSIST THAT THE INDIVIDUAL STAY, THERE IS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THE VIETNAMESE WOULD CANCEL THE WHOLE EXERCISE AND DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF THE AVRCRAFT.
MY ADVICE IS THEREFORE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT BE PLACED ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE SENIOR SECURITY BRANCH OFFICIAL: HIS INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE CLEARLY DEFINED IN ADVANCE AND THEY SHOULD INCLUDE A SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE REPATRIATION OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO NEEDS MORE THAN A HAND ON THE ELBOW TO GET HIM OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT.
3. YOU WILL ALSO NOTE THE POINTS I MADE IN MY TELNO'S 652, 660 AND 662, WHICH REMAIN OF CONCERN TO ME.
4. IT IS VIRTUALLY CERTAIN THAT THERE WILL BE NO MEDIA PRESENCE ON ARRIVAL. THE SLIGHT DOUBT ARISES IN MY MIND BECAUSE OF THE ABERRANT BEHAVIOUR OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR CAN OFFICIAL OF WHICH LEAKED THE DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT TO ROGER MATTHEWS OF THE FT (SEMI-COLON) THE SAME OFFICIAL HAS AS A TEMPORARY LODGER IN HIS HOME AT PRESENT MURRAY HIEBERT OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW). I SHALL GO OVER THIS POINT WITH LO THO WHEN
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