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2.
I CONFIRMED THESE ARRANGEMENTS SUBSEQUENTLY WITH DARUSMAN (SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN THE DFA). HE RAISED ONE PERTINENT QUESTION. THE ISLAND PROCESSING CENTRE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS THE SOLE MEANS OF RESETTLING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. WHERE IT WAS PRACTICABLE FOR OTHER ASEAN GOVERNMENTS TO ENLIST UNHCR SUPPORT FOR DIRECT RESETTLEMENT FROM ACCESSIBLE REFUGEE CAMPS, THE INTENTION WAS THAT THE ISLAND CENTRE SHOULD BE BY-PASSED., BUT WHERE REFUGEES WERE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS WHICH UNHCR WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE ABLE TO VISIT, PROVISION WAS NEEDED FOR THOSE REFUGEES TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH UNHCR AUSPICES AT THE ISLAND CENTRE. UNLESS HONG KONG HAD NO CONTACTS WITH UNHCR, HE ASKED WHAT ADVANTAGE THERE WOULD BE FOR HONG KONG TO USE THE ISLAND FACILITIES EVEN ON AN AD HOC BASIS. I COULD ONLY ANSWER THAT WE DID NOT LIKE PAYING TWICE OVER FOR PARALLEL MACHINERY. I DO NOT THINK THIS CUT MUCH ICE AND I WOULD EXPECT THE SAME ARGUMENT TO BE THROWN AT US WHEN THE QUESTION IS DISCUSSED WITH THE OTHER ASEAN PARTICIPANTS.
3.
MOCHTAR INTENDS TO HOLD A FURTHER BRIEFING SESSION WITH EEC AMBASSADORS AND ENCOURAGED ME TO RAISE THE HONG KONG ISSUE AGAIN ON THAT OCCASION. I THINK THIS WILL BE ON 3 MAY, GLAD OF ANY AMMUNITION TO DEFLECT DARUSMAN'S ARGUMENT BEFORE THEN.
4.
GLAD OF ADVICE FROM HONG KONG OF OFFICER WHO WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE ON 15 MAY, ETA ETC.
O'BRIEN
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Mr Williaman
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