TNAG-2063-FCO40-2941-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB

RECEIVED IN S

24315

2 1 MAY 1990

-

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

+

TELNO 1515

OF 09053OZ MAY 90

ICFR

EGISTR

HA

Action

124

075033

MDHIAN 9746

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

attatched.

YOUR TELNO 206 AND HANOI TELNO 246 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE :

REPATRIATION

1 WE AGREE WITH FIRST TUR.

·

2. WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY A GROUP OF 200 OR SO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHOSE HUSBANDS/FATHERS HAVE REMAINED IN VIETNAM. HOWEVER, REMOVAL OF SUCH A GROUP FROM THE EXISTING CAMPS TO SEPARATE ACCOMMODATION, WHICH IS NECESSARY IF COUNSELLING AND PERSUASION ARE TO BE EFFECTIVE, WOULD BE A DIFFICULT OPERATION WHICH WOULD ATTRACT CONSIDERABLE PUBLICITY. WE WOULD NOT WISH TO EMBARK ON SUCH AN OPERATION WITHOUT BEING SURE THAT WE WOULD BRING IT TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION THROUGH REPATRIATION, EITHER VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY. WE CANNOT RISK FAILURE, OR WORSE A FIASCO AT THE AIRPORT ON OR ARRIVAL IN HANOI WITH THE OPERATION BEING ABORTED BECAUSE THE RETURNEES ARE

NON-ACQUIESCENT.

3. NOR SHOULD IT BE ASSUMED THAT RELUCTANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WILL BE ANY EASIER TO DEAL WITH THAN MEN. INDEED, THE REVERSE IS THE CASE BOTH IN OPERATION AND PRESENTATIONAL TERMS.

4. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THE CONCEPTS OF THE GREY ARE AND THE ACQUIESCENT NON-VOLUNTEER ARE IN PRACTICE ILLUSORY. COUNSELLING, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL RESULT IN SOME RETURNING VOLUNTARILY, OR, IF UNSUCCESSFUL, IN OTHERS REMAINING RELUCTANT. THE LATTER WILL RETURN WITHOUT RESISTANCE ONLY IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER, AS IN THE DECEMBER OPERATION. THIS IS PRECISELY THE REASON WHY THE USE OF MINIMUM FORCE CANNOT BE RULED OUT, THOUGH WE BELIEVE IT IS UNLIKELY TO BE NECESSARY IN PRACTICE.

WILSON

YYYY

1

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