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I MET IN NEW YORK WHEN IT SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME APPARENT THAT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH, I MADE A PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT IN THE SENATE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THAT. AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN, I THINK, ABSOLUTELY CONSISTENT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, ALTHOUGH IT HASNT ALWAYS MADE US TREMENDOUSLY POPULAR, IN RAISING AND EXPRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IF WE BELIEVE THERE IS ANY KIND OF SOLID EVIDENTIARY FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THOSE CONCERNS AND CERTAINLY I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME CASES.
QUESTION - INDISTINCT
SENATOR EVANS
NO SUBSTANTIVE REACTION YET, THAT I AM AWARE OF BUT I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR NEARLY TEN DAYS NOW SO I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN ANY MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.
QUESTION -INDISTINCT (WILL AUSTRALIA MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A REPATRIATION PROGRAM)
SENATOR EVANS
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY REQUEST BEING MADE TO US TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO REPATRIATION. IF SUCH A REQUEST WERE MADE WE WOULD CONSIDER IT. THE REALITY IS THAT SOME COUNTRIES LIKE JAPAN, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING FOR WHATEVER REASON TO ACCEPT ACTUAL REFUGEES ARE NONTHELESS WILLING TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL AND ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION.
QUESTION
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPATRIATION FOR REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
SENATOR EVANS
WELL, THAT VERY NICE, GOOD, I AM DELIGHTED TO HEAR IT. WELL DONE.
QUESTION - (TASS)
SHALL WE BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO TASTE NOT ONLY THE AUSTRALIAN BEER BUT AUSTRALIAN CHOCOLATE TOO?
SENATOR EVANS
I THINK WE HAVE RUN OUT OF CHOCOLATES TO DISTRIBUTE.
XC. 0.BK99078
CM. ALL PROPERJOHN 7035A AOIS
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Cable print completed
88/10/29 at 15:51
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