TNAG-1969-FCO40-2802-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 62

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

TELNO MISC 81

OF 02070OZ FEBRUARY 89

1 HKD 243/9

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK

TOP

050336

MDHIAN 0832

Q DIST ?

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YOUR TELNO 60 TO FCO AND FCO TELNO 43 TO YOU: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: UK/VIETNAM MOU: FIRST RETURNS

KARIM, UNHCR'S CHARGE DE MISSION, HAS JUST RECEIVED A TELEX FROM. UNHCR'S HANOI OFFICE SAYING THAT A TEAM OF FOUR VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO COME TO HONG KONG TO INTERVIEW REPEAT INTERVIEW VOLUNTEERS APPROVED TO BE INTERVIEWED. APPARENTLY, THEY INTEND TO DEPART HANOI FOR HONG KONG VIA BANGKOK ON 10 FEBRUARY. FULL TEXT OF THE UNHCR SIGNAL IN MIFT. WE SHALL OBVIOUSLY

NEED FULL DETAILS OF THE FOUR AND THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR VISA

PURPOSES.

2. THIS DEVELOPMENT COMES AS A SURPRISE IN VIEW OF THE OUTSTANDING

UK/VIETNAM MOU. IT APPEARS THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE PROCEEDING ON THE

BASIS OF THEIR DRAFT MOU I.E. THEIR OFFICIALS WILL COME TO HONG KONG TO INTERVIEW RETURNEES ONLY. THIS LEAVES COMPLETELY OPEN THE QUESTION

OF ISSUANCE OF TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS TO THOSE VIETNAMESE HERE WHO

WISH TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

3. GIVEN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS (6-8 FEBRUARY INCLUSIVE) IN HONG KONG, WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SEEK URGENT CLARIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED VISIT OF THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS.

4. WE SHOULD ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR VIEW AS TO WHEN THE MOU IS LIKELY

TO BE CONCLUDED. WE NOTE THE PROVISION IN PARAGRAPH 2(B) THAT THE

HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WILL GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WHILE THEY ARE IN HONG KONG. WE HAVE IN MIND TO PROVIDE A POLICEMAN AND AN UNMARKED CAR TO ESCORT THEM DURING WORKING HOURS. ESCORTING WILL CEASE UPON THEIR RETURN TO THE HOTEL. WE ARE RELUCTANT

TO PROVIDE 24 HOURS PROTECTION FOR THE DELEGATION UNLESS THIS IS A GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE VIETNAMESE. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD SOUND OUT THE VIETNAMESE ON THEIR VIEWS ON THE ADEQUACY OR OTHERWISE OF THE ARRANGEMENT PROPOSED.

WILSON

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