SECRET
MKB
243 15
163356 MDHOAN 0503
SECRET
FM FCO
TELNO 4
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
OF 0315OOZ JANUARY 90
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 JAN1990
DESK ICES
INDEX
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 04: VBP REPATRIATION
1. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT LE THO HAS RESURRECTED THE CANARD THAT BRITISH AND HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OF QUOTE FORCIBLE RETURN UNQUOTE. AS PART OF THE CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH THE VIETNAMESE, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO REFUTE THIS.
PLEASE THEREFORE SEEK AN EARLY MEETING WITH LE THO TO EXPLAIN TO HIM, ON INSTRUCTIONS, THAT AT NO TIME HAVE THE BRITISH OR HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS REFERRED TO MANDATORY REPATRIATION AS FORCIBLE RETURN. THERE HAVE OF COURSE BEEN TENDENTIOUS PRESS REPORTS THAT FORCE WAS USED TO EFFECT THE FIRST REPATRIATION. HAVE STRENUOUSLY DENIED THESE.
2=
WE
YOU SHOULD GO ON TO SAY THAT WE WERE GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE NOT CLAIMING THAT THE UK ACTED IN BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT. WE HAVE SCRUPULOUSLY HONOURED OUR COMMITMENTS UNDER THAT AGREEMENT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. YOU SHOULD ADD THAT WE TOO HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE 12 DECEMBER REPATRIATION. ONE OF THOSE LESSONS IS THE NEED TO AVOID ADVANCE PUBLICITY FOR THE DATES OF FUTURE REPATRIATIONS. SUCH PUBLICITY ONLY SERVES TO CREATE
TENSIONS IN THE CAMPS IN HONG KONG AND EXCITE MEDIA INTEREST. WE HOPE THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL AGREE, AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.
IN SPEAKING TO LE THO, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD KEEP UP THE PRESSURE FOR A CONSIDERED RESPONSE TO OUR PROPOSALS.
3.
HURD
YYYY
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