A.W.O. Ltd. 11:82. 56-3683. 200m.
CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
bee them
(b) that we do not consider a multilateral approach
as previously proposed to be feasible in view of
(c)
(a)
(e)
responses from other Governments;
point out the difficult situation Hong Kong is now
in (para 3 above);
taking up Zollner's remarks, point out that the
signs are that the outflow is continuing to ease,
and that we are anxious to help Hong Kong by
dealing with the residue. Would UNHCR be willing
to approach the Vietnamese Government officially
to find out if they would be prepared to provide
formal guarantees for the safety of returning
refugees?
if UNHCR decline to do this, on the grounds that
they believe that the Vietnamese authorities have
explicitly excluded the return of refugees, and
that returnees would be mistreated, would they
agree to make a formal statement that they consider
all boat people leaving Vietnam to be refugees on
the grounds that they would be subject to
persecution on return, and that they do not
recognise the validity of distinctions drawn between
refugees and so-called economic migrants? Would
they also be prepared to request resettlement
in particular the Les
countries to stop making this distinction?
CONFIDENTIAL
16.