681
Mr
RESTRICTED
FM KUALA LUMPUR
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER
NFR
OF 18080OZ AUGUST 88
RESTRICTED
Mr Hum
1) cc. Mr footman, HKD
2) Mr Cowin für fi
FROM SARAH O'CONNELL, KUALA LUMPUR
TO JOHN DENNIS, SEAD, F CO
"Yes. At."78
COPIED TO CHANCERY, HONG KONG, AND BANGKOK
+PA
175510
MDTTAN 9327
I n godow
1918
Hup 243/8 1/8
RECEIVEN iki demi
23 AUG 198
ΙΝ ΗΑΝΟΙ
638
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: TALKS
HV.
N
S
1
BRIEFED AHMAD FADZAH (PLANNING DEPARTMENT MFA) ON 16 AUGUST
ALONG THE LINES INDICATED IN FCO TELNO 2070 AND HONG KONG TELNO 2990. AS MALAYSIA'S MISSIONS IN HANOI, BANGKOK AND LONDON HAD ALREADY REPORTED ON THE BASIS OF SIMILAR BRIEFINGS, WHAT I HAD
TO SAY WAS NOT NEW.
2.
'644)
HIS MAIN INTEREST CENTRED ON THE VIETNAMESE REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE MALAYSIANS ARE SENDING A TEAM TO
HANOI LED BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ENCIK GAFAR BABA FROM 24-
29 AUGUST AND THEY EXPECT THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL TAKE A POSITION WITH THEM THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE ALREADY TAKEN WITH US.
THE MALAYSIANS BELIEVE THAT INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WILL BE
NECESSARY TO SOLVE THE REFUGEE PROBLEM AND ANTICIPATE THAT THE
VIETNAMESE WILL DEMAND A PRICE IN THE FORM OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. THEREFORE THEY ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW THE SORT OF DEMANDS MADE BY THE VIETNAMESE TO US.
3.
I ASKED ABOUT PULAU BIDONG AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS STILL
THE INTENTION TO CLOSE THE REFUGEE CAMPS WITHIN A YEAR. THIS
WILL BE DONE BY A COMBINATION OF REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT.
ALL RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES WILL BE APPROACHED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND ASKED TO TAKE FURTHER REFUGEES. AUSTRALIA, APPARENTLY,
HAS ALREADY INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO HELP.
AND
4. THE MALAYSIAN TALKS LOOK AS IF THEY WILL BE HIGH PROFILE.
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING ARTICLES ABOUT THE REFUGEE SITUATION TO ''EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ALOUT THE PROBLEM''
THE PARTY WILL ALSO INCLUDE JOURNALISTS. GHAFAR BABA AS LEADER
WILL GIVE THE DELEGATION THE RIGHT WEIGHT TO SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY. IT MAY BE THAT THE MALAYSIANS ARE CONSIDERING BUYING THEMSELVES
A QUICK SOLUTION.
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