CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 700
OF 180905Z DECEMBER 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
RECEIVED
243 19
-RY
04 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA
521)
127604 MDHIAN 9591
TOP COPY DIST ?
CHONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)
MIPT
1. THE BEST TRANSLATION OF THE NOTE THAT THE EMBASSY TRANSLATORS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN PRODICUTING IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND IN HANOI AND HAS THE HONOUR TO PUT FORTH SOME QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE REPATRIATION ON 12/12/1989 AS FOLLOWS:
1. VIETNAM IS DISSATISFIED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAS VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT REACHED ON 26/6/89 IN HANOI, THUS CREATING THE MISUNDERSTANDING IN PUBLIC OPINION THAT THE AGREEMENT CONCERNED FORCED REPATRIATION. THIS COMPLETELY GOES AGAINST THE CONTENT OF THE AGREEMENT MADE ON THE 26TH JUNE 1989 WHICH RELATED TO A NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO DID NOT OPPOSE REPATRIATION.
2. ALSO ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT REACHED ON 26/6/89, BOTH SIDES UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT THE REPATRIATES WILL BE TREATED HUMANELY BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM. IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT ACCORDING TO THE RETURNEES ON 12/12/89, THE BRITISH SIDE DID NOT SEEK THEIR VIEWS ON THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION,
DID NOT INFORM IN ADVANCE THEM OF THE DATE OF THEIR REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM BUT TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO A DIFFERENT CAMP. DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO HAVE CONTACT WITH ANY PEOPLE DURING A LONG PERIOD, THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT IN A POSTION TO EXPRESS THEIR WISHES AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAD MOBILISED A GREAT FORECE OF ''IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS'' BUT IN TRUTH THE LATTER WERE POLICEMEN.
"
BEFORE SUCH A SITUATION, THE VIETNAM SIDE CONSIDERS THAT IT NECESSARY TO RECONSIDER WITH THE BRITISH SIDE THE CONTENT OF THE AGREEMENT ADOPTED ON 26/6/89 AND THE PROCEDURE TO BE APPLIED TO
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