TNAG-2062-FCO40-2940-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 174

!

SECRET

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 27

OF 0417OOZ JANUARY 90

HKB

243 15

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

24 JAN1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

RA

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

REGIS R

Action Taken

FROM HKD

59 HKB 243 ja

AOS

(516)

@

DIST >

q

165253

MDHOAN 0535

YOUR TELNOS 3893 AND 4134 OF 1989 AND 36: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: 1990 STRATEGY

1. WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THIS EARLY INDICATION OF THE LINE IN THE

EXCO PAPER. WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD FAX THE PAPER ITSELF TO US TO ENABLE US TO STUDY YOUR PROPOSALS IN GREATER DETAIL. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL OF COURSE WISH TO DISCUSS VBPS, INCLUDING THE STRATEGY FOR 1990, WITH EXCO WHEN HE MEETS

THEM ON 16 JANUARY.

2. WE SEE THE ATTRACTIONS OF A PROCEDURE WHICH RETAINED THE CURRENT STATUTORY PERIOD FOR APPEALS. THIS SHOULD BE MORE CREDIBLE INTERNATIONALLY AND POSSIBLY EASIER TO SELL TO THE VIETNAMESE. BUT THERE ARE ALSO POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGES, EG

THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND THE RISK THAT THE PROCEDURE COULD GET BOGGED DOWN. WE DO NOT THINK THAT THE OPTION OF MOVING IMMEDIATELY TO A QUICK 2/3 DAY TURNAROUND SHOULD BE DISCOUNTED THERE WOULD BE PRESENTATIONAL ADVANTAGES IN A PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH VBPS DID NOT ACTUALLY SET FOOT ON HONG KONG SOIL OR SEE THE INSIDE OF A CAMP. WE THINK THAT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE APPROACH SHOULD BE FULLY EXAMINED IN YOUR PAPER. 3. THE IDEA OF CHARTERING A BOAT NEEDS FURTHER THOUGHT. IN VIEW OF THE COST, WE WOULD HAVE TO BE SURE THAT IT WOULD BE PROPERLY UTILISED IN ORDER THAT IT WAS COST EFFECTIVE.

WE

ASSUME THAT YOUR PAPER INCLUDES THE RELEVANT ASSUMPTIONS AND

CALCULATIONS ABOUT THIS.

HURD

YYYY

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