CONFIDENTIAL
CORRECTED VERSION PARA 2
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 31
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
OF 031015Z JANUARY 90
Tur Cory
O DIST
243 15
HKB
RECEIVED IN ROAST
RY
163656 MOHIAN 1206
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
59 HKG 243 19
CORRECTED VERSION (PARA 2)
24 JAN1990
DESK !!
INDEX
PA
RY
Laken
NG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
HANOI TELNO 125 TO HONG KONG:
REPATRIATION
WE AGREE WITH HANOI'S PROPOSED LINE ON PUBLICITY. CLEARLY, IF THE VIETNAMESE WANT NO PUBLICITY BEFOREHAND THEY SHOULD NOT LEAK THE DETAILS OF THE FLIGHTS TO UNHCR AND THE PRESS. WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE AVOIDED FOR THE NEXT AND SUBSEQUENT FLIGHTS.
2.
WE CANNOT, AND INDEED PRESUMABLY SHOULD NOT, DO ANYTHING TO CONTROL PUBLICITY AFTER THE EVENT, BUT AGREE THAT WE SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE THIS AS POSITIVE AS POSSIBLE FROM BOTH OUR OWN AND THE VIETNAMESE POINT OF VIEW. ONE OF OUR MAJOR AIMS IS OF
COURSE THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF NON-VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE IN VIETNAM IN ORDER TO DETER DEPARTURES.
3. AS HANOI OBSERVE, THE POINT ABOUT PHYSICAL SECURITY IS MORE DIFFICULT. WE FEEL THAT WE MUST RETAIN ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
JUDGING THE SIZE OF THE ESCORT REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL CONCERNED IN THE OPERATION. THE VIETNAMESE DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT AS SUCH TO QUERY US ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS (E.G. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JUNE AGREEMENT) EVEN IF THEY APPARENTLY FEEL IT NECESSARY TO BE SEEN TO BE TAKING A CLOSE INTEREST. WHILE OUTWARD APPEARANCE IS IMPORTANT, WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT NONE OF THOSE WHO ARE TO RETURN WILL DO SO WILLINGLY: AND A CERTAIN DEGREE OF CLEAR POLICE PRESENCE
IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF SULLEN
ACQUIESCENCE TURNING INTO OVERT RESISTANCE.
4.
·
WE MUST ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE AIRLINE'S OWN REQUIREMENTS ON SAFETY IT IS NORMAL PRACTICE INTERNATIONALLY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE ESCORTED ON REMOVAL BY TWO POLICE OFFICERS. ON THIS BASIS THE NUMBERS INVOLVED LAST WERE NOT DISPROPORTIONATE.
BEFORE FINALISING PLANS FOR THE NEXT OPERATION HOWEVER WE WILL BE
LOOKING CAREFULLY AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF POLICEMEN INVOLVED AND THEIR OBTRUSIVENESS AS WELL AS THE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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