HUD 243/1005
CIVER NRS
CONFIDENTIAL
FR
RY
PA
Taken
2
152722
MDLIAN 2408
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY
TELNO 0224
FCO
OF 151145Z JANUARY 88
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, KUALA LUMPUR INFO ROUTINE HANOI, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, BANGKOK, MANILA
INFO ROUTINE
UKMIS GENEVA
(87/243/5)
63
p.a
YOUR TELNO.: 3108: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES CONTACTS WITH ASEAN:
PHILIPPINES
-
SUMMARY
,
PHILIPPINES CONSUL-GENERAL WELCOMES SUGGESTION TO SEND REPRESENTATIVE(S) TO MANILA, AND OTHER ASEAN CAPITALS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE ISSUE AND DISCUSS A JOINT APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM AMONG PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM.
DETAIL
2. THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAW THE PHILIPPINE CONSUL-GENERAL, REYES, ON 14 JANUARY AND SPOKE IN LINES OF PARA. 2 OF OUR TELNO 4829.
•
3. REYES SAID THAT HIS COUNTRY ALSO HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF VIETNAM- E SE REFUGES. HE SAID THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES TO KNOW PRECISELY HOW MANY BECAUSE THEY ARRIVED ON ISOLATED ISLANDS ALL OVER THE ARCHIPELAGO. HE ADDED THAT THE PHILIPPINE NAVY OFTEN PICKED UP BOAT REFUGEES FROM THE SEA NEAR THE PHILIPPINES AND (QUOTE) OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT REFUSE TO GRANT THEM FIRST ASYLUM CUNQUOTE). HE WELCOMED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS A COMMON APPROACH ON DURABLE SOLUTIONS WITH THE OTHER FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE GOING BACK TO MANILA ON 15 JANUARY AND WOULD RELAY OUR SUGGESTION TO THE REFUGEE OFFICIALS
CONCERNED.
4.
THE PHILIPPINES CONSUL-GENERAL IS THE LAST ASEAN REPRESENTATIVES WE ARE SEEING. WE SHALL REPORT AGAIN WHEN THE COME BACK TO US WITH RESPONSES FROM THEIR GOVERNMENTS.
WILSON
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