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and it is by no means certain that such discussions would
agree on an internationally acceptable definition between economic migrants and refugees. But in the longer term if
may be possible to identify a basis
for international
action, perhaps in the context of an improvement in the political climate in Indo-China. It is frankly difficult
to see what other approach offers any prospect whatsoever
of going to the root of the problem posed to Hong Kong and
to national governments by Vietnamese refugees. And there
would be the immediate benefit for us that we could
demonstrate both to the Home Office and to the Hong Kong
Government our determination to explore all avenues which
could lead to a definitive cessation of the pressures
them.
on
22.
We should need to handle the matter very carefully,
seeking to avoid taking too overt a lead and to bring other
the governments and
UNHCR with us.
We believe that the
problem of economic migrants is already the subject of
in formal and periodic discussion between representatives
of the main resettlement countries in Geneva, and we might
seek to become involved in such disucssions.
Our
participation in an existing forum of this kind would help
to reduce any problems of public presentation: there would then be significantly less than those associated with any
approach
Vietnam over involuntary
consultations could be
bilateral
repatriation.
to
Our multilateral
defended as a necessary attempt to clarify and understand an intractable long-term problem, to which resettlement was evidently not providing a definitive solution.
Hong
23. We have informally consulted Hong Kong, UKMis Geneva
and our posts in Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on these
proposals.
Kong agree generally with what is
proposed, while expressing disappointment that we do not see involuntary repatriation as a possible option now or in
the medium term. UKMis Geneva have advised that at working
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