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8.
We shall have subsequently to consider how and when
to bring in the countries of first asylum, who are themselves increasingly concerned by the prospect of being
caught between an undiminished outflow from Vietnam and
increasing compassion fatigue in the resettlement
countries. (This could possibly be some time in early 1987.)
9.
In the first instance our efforts within the group
will be very exploratory, directed at establishing what common ground might exist. We may find that the following views are quite widely shared:
10.
in the
(i) the great majority of those now leaving
Vietnam are not refugees as defined
as
1951 Convention;
(ii) some criteria may need to be established to
distinguish between true refugees and the
rest in their reception and treatment: but
the outcome of any such "screening" should
not simply be to increase the burden of
"non-refugees" on places of first asylum (including Hong Kong);
also
(iii) the govenments concerned (and preferably
the UNHCR) should collectively
establish contact with the Vietnamese
Government
to
discuss
the
issue
of
emigration from Vietnam and to explore the
scope for cooperation over it.
As I explained in my earlier submission, a logical
subject to
to be explored, if this collective dialogue with
the Vietnamese can be established, would be international arrangements whereby economic refugees would be returned to
Vietnam under guarantees that they would not be subjected
to harsh treatment on their return. We cannot tell at this
stage how far our contacts with other governments will take
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