CONFIDENTIAL
134501
MDHOAN 8177
ALL
WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN HONG KONG TO AWAIT RESETTLEMENT. ARRIVALS WILL BE SCREENED ON THE BASIS OF UNHCR CRITERIA, ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES WHICH UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR.
IN TAKING THIS DECISION WE ARE SENDING THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE
SIGNAL TO THOSE IN VIETNAM WHO MAY HAVE PURELY ECONOMIC MOTIVES
FOR CONTEMPLATING ILLEGAL DEPARTURE BY SEA. THEY MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS A VOYAGE THAT CAN ONLY LEAD TO DETENTION IN HONG
KONG AND ULTIMATELY TO THEIR RETURN TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
ON
HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ARE PRESSING FOR ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE
VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO ENABLE THOSE WHO ARE FOUND NOT TO BE
GENUINE REFUGEES TO BE SENT BACK TO VIETNAM UNDER SUITABLE
GUARANTEES ABOUT THE TREATMENT THEY WILL RECEIVE. IN NEW YORK
7 JUNE I URGED THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO TAKE STEPS TO
REDUCE ILLEGAL DEPARTURES AND TO TAKE BACK THOSE WHO HAVE NO
PROSPECT OF RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. I SAW THE CHINESE AND SOVIET
FOREIGN MINISTERS ON THE SAME DAY AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM OF
THE BOAT PEOPLE WITH BOTH OF THEM. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO
SECRETARY SHULTZ.
THIS IS NOT OF COURSE A COMPLETE SOLUTION. THERE IS A LIMIT TO
WHAT CAN BE DONE UNTIL CIRCUMSTANCES AND OFFICIAL ATTITUDES
CHANGE IN VIETNAM ITSELF. WE ARE NOW IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE
RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, UNHCR AND THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION
ABOUT THE CHANGE OF POLICY AND THE WAY FORWARD. WE ARE
IMPRESSING UPON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE NEED FOR
CONCERTED ACTION TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AT SOURCE AND TO FIND A
LASTING SOLUTION TO THIS HUMAN TRAGEDY. HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
WILL DEVOTE THEIR UNCEASING EFFORTS TO THIS END.
ENDS
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
23
LIMITED
HKD
PS
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DISTRIBUTION
23
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
MR MCLAREN
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