TNAG-2062-FCO40-2940-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 188

CONFIDENTIAL

163656

MDHIAN 1206

POSSIBILITY OF OTHER COSMETIC MEASURES SUGGESTED BY HANOI AT THE END OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR. BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE SAFETY OF THOSE INVOLVED.

5. ON THE ALLEGATION THAT RETURNEES WOULD BE MET AT THE AIRPORT OR ON THE AIRCRAFT BY VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS (THE ''VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR'' AS IN HANOI TELNO 687) SOMETHING MUST HAVE GOT LOST IN THE TRANSLATION. THOSE BEING REPATRIATED WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE MET AT THE AIRPORT IN HANOI BY THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM. WE WOULD NOT/NOT WISH TO HAVE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS PRESENT TO WITNESS THE HONG KONG END OF THE OPERATION. HAVING THEM HERE WOULD ALSO PUT THEM IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AND WE WONDER WHETHER THEY WOULD WELCOME IT.

6.

WE AGREE WITH HANOI'S SUGGESTION THAT IT WOULD POSSIBLY BE

SMOOTHER FOR THE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO BE PAID OVER IN HANOI RATHER THAN LONDON.

WILSON

YYYY

MAIN

63

VIETNAMESE REPATRIATION

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

FED

NEWS D

PS

ADDITIONAL

2

MR REEVES CABINET OFFICE

PRESS OFFICE NO 10

N~~~

DISTRIBUTION

65

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR BLATHERWICK

MR MCLAREN

MR MOSS

MR BEAMISH

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CONFIDENTIAL