TNAG-1969-FCO40-2802-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 48

Mr Myswan Gre

Hy

1/2

Mr Colvin

Mr McLaren

FROM:

DATE

A Godson

South East Asian Department

14

HR DEC 24 February 1989

Footman, HKD

Ms McKeown, SPD

14/2

Mr Whitehead, News Dept

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG :

RETURNS

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR FIRST

A

1.

Hanoi have drawn attention to the level of prospective media

interest in the first returns of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong

and have asked for a reinforcement to cope with the expected influx

of journalists (Mr Partridge's teleletter of 7 February) HMA Bangkok is prepared to release his information officer, Mr Bean, to help out for a few days but neither Bangkok nor Hanoi can cover the

costs from their local budgets.

2.

The first returns are likely to attract a good deal of interest and it will be important for the Embassy to respond quickly

and efficiently to enquiries from the press and electronic media.

Mr Bean is well qualified to help and the sums involved in sending

him to Hanoi would be modest: a return air fare and five days

subsistence would come to approximately £500. I therefore recommend

that the costs be met from Mr McLaren's AUS travel budget.

3.

We do not yet have a firm date for the return of the first batch of boat people but we are aiming for 2/3 March.

Again

A Godson