GRS 180
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BANGKOK
TO DESKBY 07120OZ FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 2437911
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
ྃ་“
7 JUL 1986
DESK OFFICE INDEX
TELNO 351
OF 070906Z JULY 86
орт
7:785
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR
YOUR TEL 1346 TO HONG KONG
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WE BELIEVE THAT THAIS WOULD WELCOME YOUR PROPOSAL (B) AND THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEPTIVE IN PRINCIPLE TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE SHOULD BE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN POLITICAL REFUGEES AND ECONOMIC MIGRANTS IF THIS WERE TO LEAD TO THE LATTERS' RE- PATRIATION. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TRIAL SCHEME IN OPERATION TO SCREEN LAOTIAN REFUGEES BUT AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE THIS HAS YET TO RESULT IN ANY CASES OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. AT THE UNHCR CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON REFUGEES IN THAILAND ON 25 APRIL CERTAIN MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES (NOTABLY CANADA AND AUSTRALIA) ARGUED THAT ALTERNATIVES TO REPATRIATION NEEDED TO BE DEVISED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. (BEAN'S LETTER OF 1 MAY TO NASH REFERS).
2. HOWEVER WE ENDORSE YOUR VIEW THAT WE WOULD NEED TO AVOID TAKING TOO OVERT A LEAD ON THIS ISSUE PARTICULARLY IN DISCUSSION. WITH MAJOR FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES SUCH AS THAILAND AS THIS COULD SERVE TO AROUSE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR ACCEPTING MORE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK.
TONKIN
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
G