TNAG-1909-FCO40-2713-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 38

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MDHOAN 0198

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 2540

OF 21153OZ DECEMBER 89

AND TO IMMEDIATE HANOI INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

09 JAN 1990

DESK VECKẸM

INDEX

UKMISİGENEVA

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YOUR TELNO 4196 AND HANOI TELNO 715: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

REPATRIATION.

1.

MINISTERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE NEED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH FURTHER REPATRIATION FLIGHTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE REPATRATION PROGRAMME DOES NOT STALL. BUT IN PRACTICE WE NEED TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON THE

CONTINUATION OF THE REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HANOI'S EFFORTS SO FAR TO PIN THE VIETNAMESE DOWN ON THIS: BUT IN VIEW OF VIETNAMESE PROCRASTINATION, IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO PREPARE THE GROUND ADEQUATELY FOR A RESUMPTION OF FLIGHTS AS EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR AS YOU SUGGEST. MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED THEREFORE, BUT WILL NOT (NOT) ANNOUNCE, THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO FURTHER FLIGHTS UNTIL AFTER THE ENNALS/RAISON VISIT TO VIETNAM (5 TO 11 JANUARY) AND THE MEETING OF SC3(2) (18/19 JANUARY)

2. YOU SHOULD NEVERTHELESS PROCEED WITH CLEARANCE OF THE NAMES OF THE NEXT GROUPS SO THAT REPATRIATION FLIGHTS CAN BE RESUMED AS

SOON AFTER SC3(2) AS POSSIBLE.

3. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD DRAW UP A NEW PROGRAMME OF DATES RUNNING FROM AFTER 19 JANUARY, ON THE BASIS OF AN INITIAL RATE OF ONE A FORTNIGHT.

4. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PRACTICALITIES OF THE NEXT REPATRIATION FLIGHT. WE NOTE THAT YOU PROPOSE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO PHOENIX HOUSE FOR THE FINAL DEPARTURE POINT: IN VIEW OF THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE EXERCISE TO REMOVE THE LAST GROUP FROM CHI MA WAN AND THE METHODS WHICH WERE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT MOVE'S SUCCESS, MINISTERS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE NEXT GROUP SHOULD GO AS SMOOTHLY AS

POSSIBLE.

5.

WE PROPOSE TO MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF THIS TIME TO CANVAS SUPPORT FOR MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION AT SC3(2). TO THAT END WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR CURRENT ATTEMPT TO SECURE AMERICAN ACQUIESCENCE, IF NOT ACTIVE SUPPORT IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, AND WE WILL BE SENDING SEPARATE LOBBYING INSTRUCTIONS TO

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