CONFIDENTIAL
104213
MDHOAN 1071
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND HONG KONG HAVE EACH CONCLUDED THAT NEW POLICIES ARE REQUIRED. IN THAILAND, NEW ARRIVALS ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT AND THE PHANAT NIKHOM HOLDING CENTRE HAS BEEN CLOSED TO NEW ARRIVALS. MALAYSIA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CLOSE THE PULAU BIDANG CAMP.
HONG KONG HAS INTRODUCED A SYSTEM OF SCREENING, UNDER WHICH THOSE WHO ARE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE DETAINED IN CLOSED CAMPS PENDING THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM WHEN SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN.
ALL THIS CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM AFFECTING VIETNAMESE CITIZENS. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS DONE ITS BEST TO MANAGE THE PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS WITH PATIENCE AND RESTRAINT. WE BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME FOR VIETNAM TO PLAY ITS FULL PART IN RESOLVING IT. THE TWELVE URGE THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE EFFECTIVE STEPS TO CONTROL ILLEGAL DEPARTURES AND TO MAKE SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE BACK ALL THOSE VIETNAMESE WHO ARE FOUND NOT TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES. THE TWELVE WELCOME VIETNAM'S RECENT DECISION TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION WITH UNHCR AND WITH PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE REGION, INCLUDING THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND HONG KONG. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT VIETNAM COOPERATES WITH ALL CONCERNED SO THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN A HUMANE
MANNER.
TEXT ENDS.
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LEGAL ADVISERS MR MCLAREN
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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