SUYAAF (2)
Background
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1. At the UK's initiative, the AWG meeting on 6 July discussed the problem of the increasing out flow of Vietnamese boat people. They agreed that it was Vietnam's responsbility to ensure the return of those boat people not meeting the criteria of refugees. They also agreed in principle that there should be a demarche by the Twelve in Hanoi. Political Directors noted at their meeting on 12-13 July the UK would circulate a draft demarche by Coreu. This has now been
done and comments from the Twelve are awaited.
2. The Vietnamese Government have invited the Hong Kong Government
to send a team to Hanoi to discuss the problem and we understand
that similar invitations have been extended to Thailand, Malaysia
and UNHCR. The Vietnamese Government has indicated that they will
wish to discuss the question of economic assistance. This
initiative is a welcome development, although it remains to be seen whether the Vietnamese Government will be prepared to enter into
serious discussion and what price they will demand for their cooperation. We have taken up the Vietnamese invitation, and expect
preliminary talks to take place shortly.
3.
This latest development reinforces our conviction that action
in Hanoi in the name of the Twelve should take place at the earliest
opportunity, so as
so as to underline our concern to ensure that the
Vietnamese Government approach to the talks is both serious and
urgent.
4.
There are now over 20,000 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong, compared with about 8,000 one year ago. Most are farmers and
fishermen seeking a better life, not refugees. Prospects of
resettlement for such people are virtually non-existent. Places of
first asylum are increasingly frustrated with the problem. In
Thailand new arrivals are no longer available for resettlement.
Malaysia has announced the closure of Pulau Bidang Camp. Hong Kong
has introduced screening..
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