TNAG-2062-FCO40-2940-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 162

CONFIDENTIAL

177304

MDHOAN 0789

17

HK B

24315

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

24 JAN 1990

REGISTRY

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 10010OZ HANOI

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

tion

TELNO 14

OF 09173OZ JANUARY 90

OP COPY

Q DIST?

ENNALS/RAISON MONITORING VISIT

1. THERE HAVE BEEN PRESS AND RADIO REPORTS THAT ENNALS AND RAISON'S MONITORING VISIT IS BEING HAMPERED BY THE PRESENCE AT THE INTERVIEWS OF VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. ACCORDING TO

TODAY'S DAILY MAIL, DESPITE PROMISES THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE FAMILIES ALONE, THREE OFFICIALS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE SAT IN ON PART OF ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS. THERE WERE REPORTEDLY ATTEMPTS TO DELAY THE INTERVIEWS. A FURTHER CRITICISM REPORTED IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WAS THAT THE PROCEDURES WERE COMPLICATED BECAUSE THE INTERPRETER PROVIDED BY THE BRITISH EMBASSY DID NOT ALWAYS GIVE AN ACCURATE TRANSLATION.

2. GRATEFUL FOR REPORT OF PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENED. PLEASE TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION WITH THE VIETNAMESE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER INTERFERENCE BY OFFICIALS IN THE INTER- VIEWS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THE FAMILIES SHOULD BE SEEN DURING THE VISIT. IT IS VITAL TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SUBSEQUENT REPORT THAT THE INTERVIEWS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITHOUT ANY HINT OF INTIMIDATION BY THE VIETNAMESE

AUTHORITIES.

HURD

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

66

ΜΑΙΝ

63

VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

NEWS D

FED

PAGE

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR BLATHERWICK

MR MCLAREN

MR MOSS

MR BEAMISH

1

CONFIDENTIAL

3