CONFIDENTIAL
524
127664 MDHIAN 9600
HKB
243 ja
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
KECEIVED
~TRY
TO DESKBY 18123OZ FCO
04 JAN 1990
TELNO 4152
DESK
OF 181123Z DECEMBER 29.
INDEX
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
519
TOP COPY Q LIST ?
YOUR TELNO 2503: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THESE ALLEGATIONS, ON WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO BASE YOUR LINE TO TAKE:
(A) TIME TO PACK. WE HAD ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 45 MINUTES FOR PEOPLE TO PACK THEIR BELONGINGS INTO THE BAGS PROVIDED. IN FACT IT TOOK THEM ONLY 30 MINS. BECAUSE MANY OF THE RETURNEES WERE PREPARED FOR A MOVE AND SOME HAD ALREADY PACKED THEIR
BELONGINGS.
(B) QUOTES AT LEAST ONE PERSON UNQUOTE CARRIED ONTO THE AIRCRAFT. THIS IS UNTRUE. NO ONE WAS CARRIED OR FORCED TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. BOARDING WENT VERY SMOOTHLY AND IT WAS ONLY NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ONE ELDERLY LADY (HELPING BY THE HAND AND CARRYING
HER BELONGINGS ONLY).
(C) MONEY. IMMIGRATION OFFICERS EXPLAINED CLEARLY TO ALL THE VBP THAT THEY WOULD BE GIVEN USD30 PER ADULT AND USD15 PER CHILD. THERE WERE NO OBJECTIONS AT THE TIME SEMICOLON BUT IT IS PERHAPS NOT SURPRISING THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE CREATED A GRIEVANCE OUT OF RECEIVING LESS MONEY THEN THOSE REPATRIATED UNDER THE VOLUNTARY SCHEME, I.E. USD 50 FOR ADULTS AND USD 25 FOR CHILDREN. WE THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS DIFFERENTIAL IN FAVOUR OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION BE MAINTAINED
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL
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