CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/9
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 435
OF 091015Z FEBRUARY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
INFO PRIORITY BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA
TOP COPY Q DIST
4441
MDLIAN 5611
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG : FIRST RETURNEES
1. WE UNDERSTAND FROM UNHCR LOCALLY (KARIM) AND GENEVA (CASSELLA)
THAT THEY AND THE VIETNAMESE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET THE FIRST GROUP BACK
TO VIETNAM BEFORE THE K.L. PREPCON IN EARLY MARCH. WE OF COURSE WELCOME THIS SUGGESTION AND HAVE PREPARED A TENTATIVE TIMETABLE IN
CONSULTATION WITH UNHCR AND ICM.
2.
WE ARE OBLIGED TO PROVIDE THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WITH 15
DAYS NOTICE OF ARRIVAL OF GROUPS OF RETURNEES (PARGAGRAPH 2(E)B OF THE UK/VIETNAM MOU). WE ARE NOW AIMING FOR THE RETURN OF THE FIRST GROUP ON 2 OR 3 MARCH WHICH MEANS THAT WE MUST GIVE THE VIETNAMESE NOTIFICATION OF THESE DATES ON 15/16 FEBRUARY. ICM WILL CONSULT PHILIPPINE AIRLINES ON THESE DATES OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO AND WE
HOPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A FIRM PROPOSAL TO THE VIETNAMESE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNHCR WILL APPROACH THE VIETNAMESE ON THESE
DATES AS SOON AS PHILIPPINE AIRLINES CONFIRM THE AVAILABILITY OF
FLIGHTS. PERHAPS HANOI COULD BE ASKED TO PUT THESE DATES TO THE VIETNAMESE ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS, WITH CONFIRMATION FOLLOWING NEXT WEEK.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
92
DISTRIBUTION
98
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
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CONFIDENTIAL
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