CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO
IMMEDIATE THE HAGUE
TELNO 123
OF 011616Z JUNE 88
HUD 2433
AND TO IMMEDIATE BONN
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
A
071510
MDHOAN 7227
1988
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
BILATERALS WITH THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER AT UNSSD
1.
ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN HAND FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MEET NGUYEN CO THACH, VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER, ON 7 JUNE
DURING THE UNSSD MEETING IN NEW YORK. HE WILL BE RAISING THE QUESTION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, AS WELL AS CAMBODIA.
IN RESPONSE TO OUR COREU CPE/PRES LON 263 THE NETHERLANDS
(CPE/HAG 223) AND FRG (CPE/PRES/BON 462) HAVE CONFIRMED THAT
THEIR FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL HOLD SIMILAR MEETINGS WITH THACH.
3. WE HAVE BEEN URGING EC PARTNERS TO TAKE CONCERTED ACTION
WITH VIETNAM ON THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND SEE THESE
MEETINGS AS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THIS, AND IN PARTICULAR TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
2.
4.
(A) THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM HAS
CREATED A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM IN THE SOUTH
EAST ASIA REGION. THE PREDICAMENT OF THESE UNFORTUNATE
PEOPLE IS A MATTER OF GRAVE INTERNATIONAL CONCERN. THIS
IS BAD FOR VIETNAM'S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE AND FOR VIETNAM'S
RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
(B) VIETNAM MUST ACCEPT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS ITS OWN
CITIZENS. IT SHOULD TAKE URGENT MEASURES TO ENSURE
EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF ILLEGAL DEPARTURES AND SHOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF THOSE BOAT PEOPLE
WHO DO NOT MEET THE AGREED CRITERIA FOR REFUGEE STATUS, AND PROVIDE TO SATISFACTORY GUARANTEES ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU AND BONN WOULD SPEAK ON THE BASIS OF PARA 3 ABOVE TO THE APPROPRIATE MFA CONTACTS AND URGE THEM TO INCLUDE SIMILAR POINTS IN BRIEFING FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE MINISTERS' BILATERALS.
5. BACKGROUND IS CONTAINED IN FCO TELNO 172 TO UKREP BRUSSELS, SETTING OUT THE TEXT OF THE 2-3 MAY EC/ASEAN MINISTERIAL
MEETING JOINT DECLARATION, AND IN BONN TELNO 494 REPORTING ON THE POLITICAL COMMITTEE'S 30/31 MAY MEETING.
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL