RESTRICTED
HKD 243/8
385
170321 MDLIAN 7689
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1596
OF 232345Z JUNE 88
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, CANBERRA, HANOI INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA
369
FCO TELNO 1629: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
1.
TO
PUBLICITY
VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCASTED A REPORT ON THE NEW POLICY ON 16
AND 17 JUNE (TEXT IN MIFT).
2.
THE REPORT IS REASONABLE IN THAT IT EMPHASISES THAT THE MAJORITY OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARE ECONOMIC REFUGEES, THAT
RESETTLEMENT IS NO LONGER A REALISTIC OPTION FOR THOSE ARRIVING
IN HONG KONG: AND THE INTENTION THAT THOSE ARRIVALS NOT AFFORDED
REFUGEE STATUS SHOULD EVENTUALLY BE REPATRIATED. THE REPORT MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THE US GOVERNMENT'S REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
A CLAND
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
128
ΜΑΙΝ
125
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
SPD
·
LIMITED
FED
HKD
NEWS
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
SED
PUSD
ECD (I)
E CD (E)
ADDITIONAL
MRS WYETH ODA
3
MR FLESHER B1 DIV HO LUNAR HSE
22~~
PAGE
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
HKGO LONDON
1
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