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HMLNAN 6450 CONFIDENTIAL]
PP FCOLN PP HANOT
FM HOKON TO
220345Z MAY
GRS 450
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
нин газка
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JUN 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
COLN
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1567
OF 220345Z MAY 86
INFO PRIORITY HANO!
PA
REGISTRY Acton Taken:
FROM JEAFFRESON FOR HUM.
NO DISTRIBUTION
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
166821/0 It done.
I have sent
cum
interin rests.
fi
anaye
Gry's E 2 Wen, S(VA) elé, Celio geach (+ fir W Harding) when I stum
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
FURTHER TO MY TELNO 1465 WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY THE
AMERICANS AND CANADIANS. THE SUBJECT ALSO CAME UP WHEN THE
SECRETARY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF MIGRATION AND ETHNIC
AFFAIRS VISITED HONG KONG THIS WEEK.
Corry
2. THE AMERICANS ASKED FOR AN INFORMAL MEETING TO DISCUSS
INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. THEY EXPLAINED THAT, GIVEN THE DIMINISHING PROSPECTS FOR RESETTLEMENT AND THE PRESENT HIGH RATE OF ARRIVALS, THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS SOLUTION WAS WORTHY OF FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE SPEAKING INFORMALLY ON BEHALF OF
THE USCG HERE. BUT WE GATHERED THAT THE OPPOSITION TO INVOLUNTARY
REPATRIATION IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR HAD REDUCED
CONSIDERABLY.
3. SEPARATELY, WE WERE INVITED TO LUNCH BY THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION
OFFICIALS HERE. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON THE PRESENT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE RATE, WE WERE ASKED WHAT WE WOULD DO IF, SAY,
FILIPINOS ARRIVED IN BOATS SEEKING TO LAND IN HONG KONG.
THE CANADIANS ANSWERED THEIR OWN QUESTION BY SUGGESTING THAT WE
WOULD RETURN THEM TO THE PHILIPPINES. WE AGREED. THEY THEN ASKED
WHETHER WE HAD CONSIDERED INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ANY FURTHEP.
WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE CONSTANTLY CONSIDERING A WIDE RANGE
OF OPTIONS AND ASKED WHAT THE CANADIAN VIEW WOULD BE IF HONG KONG
WERE TO PROPOSE INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD
ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION OF THIS SUBJECT. THEY SAID THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL PRESUMPTION IN 1979 THAT ALL THOSE LEAVING VIETNAM
BY BOAT WERE REFUGEES HAD TO BE RE-EXAMINED. THEY SAID THAT THIS
COULD BEST BE DONE AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. THEY SAID THAT
IT MIGHT BE EVEN BETTER TO DISCUSS THIS AT A PEGIONAL
CONFERENCE. THEY FELT STRONGLY THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE DISCUSSED
OPENLY.
4. WE RAISED THIS SUBJECT WITH THE AUSTRALIANS AT A RECEPTION.
THE SECRETARY FOR MIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS SAID THE HE PERSONALLY
FAVOURED THE IDEA BUT HE DID NOT THINK THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
WOULD GIVE IT SUPPORT PUBLICLY.
YOUDE
YYYY
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