TNAG-2233-FCO40-3206-Visits-by-the-Office-of-Members-of-the-Executive-and-Legisla-1991 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

135341 MDHOAN 5148

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCQ

TO SEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1094

OF 10143OZ JUNE 91

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

FROM COLVIN, SEAD

OUR TELNO 997: VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: OMELCO DELEGATION

=

JOHN YAXLEY, COMMISSIONER AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S LONDON OFFICE, SAW THE OMELCO DELEGATION THIS MORNING. HE TELLS US THAT THEY WERE IN UNCOMPROMISING MOOD. THEY WERE EQUALLY FORTHRIGHT WHEN I SAW THEM FOR THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON. ELSIE TU IN PARTICULAR BELIED A BENIGN GRANNY APPEARANCE WITH A PERFORMANCE CLOSER TO ROSA KLEBB THAN GRANDMA MOSES. I USED THE IMC DEFENCE TO THE UTMOST BUT THEY WERE INCLINED TO DISMISS THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE. AS A WASTE OF TIME, TOO SPECULATIVE AND TOO LATE. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HMG WOULD DO WHEN (NOT IF) HONG KONG ABANDONED FIRST ASYLUM LATER THIS SUMMER.

2. THE DELEGATION WILL DELIVER AN ENCORE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 11 JUNE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE DESKBY 11090OZ ON HOW BEST TO DEFLECT THEIR ARGUMENTS.

COULD AND SHOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE

REVEAL THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING AN EARLY MANDATORY REPATRIATION FLIGHT TO RETURN THE DOUBLE-BACKERS? IF SO, GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW PLANNING IS PROCEEDING AND HOW QUICKLY THE OPERATION COULD BE ARRANGED SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE A LINE TO TAKE ACCORDINGLY. HURD

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

134

ΜΑΙΝ

127

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

PS

LIMITED

PS/MRS CHALKER

SEAD

EAPD/ODA

ECD (E)

HD/ECFAD/ODA

FED

PAGE

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

PS/PUS

MR LANKESTER

SIR J COLES

1

CONFIDENTIAL