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INFO ALL COREU PRIORITE
CPE/LON 385
RECEIV
REGISTRY
04/08/88
18:00 HRS
INDE
Lom
5 AUG 1988
OFFICER
PA
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
DIFFUSION RESTREINTE
OBJET : VIETNAM AND THE
INDO-CHINESE
REF CPE/PRES/ATH/287 AND CPE/PAR/302
REFUGEE PROBLEM
1. THE UK IS GRATEFUL TO THE PRESIDENCY FOR PREPARING A
FRENCH TEXT OF THE DEMARCHE. THE UK HAS ALSO TAKEN NOTE OF
THE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS MADE BY FRANCE.
2.
THE UK WISHES TO INFORM PARTNERS THAT THE UK'S FIRST
TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IN HANOI ON THE
QUESTION OF BOAT PEOPLE TOOK PLACE ON 3-4 AUGUST. FOR
PARTNERS' INFORMATION THE TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED
AFTER THE MEETING IS REPEATED BELOW. THE UK PROPOSE THAT THE
DEADLINE OF 120OZ 5 AUGUST FOR AGREEING THE TEXT OF A
DEMARCHE SHOULD BE POSTPONED TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER REFLECTION
ON THE OUTCOME OF TALKS WITH VIETNAM AND THE COMMENTS AND
SUGGESTIONS MADE BY PARTNERS.
3.
TEXT AND PRESS STATEMENT OF 4 AUGUST BEGINS:
QUOTE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS AND
OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM MET IN HANOI ON 3 AND 4 AUGUST TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS CREATED
BY THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ENTERING HONG KONG.
THE MEETING TOOK PLACE IN AN OPEN AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT, WHILE THE HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CAUSES OF THE OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM WERE COMPLEX, REALISTIC AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO BRING IT TO AN END WERE URGENTLY
REQUIRED. THEY FURTHER AGREED THAT ANY SOLUTION WOULD NEED
TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INTERNATIONAL LAWS NATIONAL LAWS AND
THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION FOR BOTH SIDES.
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH REPATRIATION ON A
HUMANITARIAN BASIS MIGHT TAKE PLACE WERE CONSIDERED. BOTH SIDES AGREED FURTHER TO CONSIDER THE ISSUES URGENTLY, WITH
A VIEW TO ANOTHER MEETING SOON AT WHICH PRACTICAL DECISIONS
COULD BE TAKEN.
UNQUOTE
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