CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
HKD 243/8
RECEIVE
13 SEP 1982
787
063547
MDHIAN 3140
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 121300Z FCO
TELNO 3418
OF 121125Z SEPTEMBER 88
INDL
ту
I
ነ
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE INFO IMMEDIATE MANILA, WASHINGTON, JAKARTA, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN INFO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA, CANBERRA, KAMPALA
KAMPALA FOR PS/FOREIGN SECRETARY
780,
BANGKOK TELNO 622: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: RUN-UP TO INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE: HONG KONG PARTICIPATION
IT WAS HELPFUL TO HAVE THIS SUMMARY OF THE POSITION ON PLANS FOR
PREPARATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
2.
WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG PARTICIPATION
IN THIS PROCESS. WE ARE ASSUMING THAT YOU WILL WISH TO BE INVOLVED.
IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE CONFIRMATION OF THIS AND TO KNOW THE
LATEST STATE OF OFFICIAL AND MINISTERIAL THINKING. IN PARTICULAR WE
SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER IT IS INTENDED TO ACCEPT THE
INVITATION FOR UK TO ATTEND AS OBSERVERS AT THE WORKING GROUP
MEETING IN BANGKOK ON 16/17 SEPTEMBER (PARA 3 OF TUR).
3. ONE ADDITIONAL POINT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TODAY (12 SEPTEMBER) BY QUINONES (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF REGIONAL AFFAIRS OF THE EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC BUREAU OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT) THAT
AMERICAN THINKING HAS FIRMED UP ON SUPPORT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. HE TOLD THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THAT THEY
NOW SEE ADVANTAGE IN PROMOTING THE IDEA PROVIDED THAT PROGRESS
TOWARDS IT IS CAREFULLY GUIDED.
4. FROM THE HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW THE ADVANTAGES OF PARTICIPATION
IN THE SERIES OF MEETINGS UP TO AND INCLUDING AN INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE WOULD BE:
A)
THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AND TO INFLUENCE
THINKING ON MOVES TOWARDS REPATRIATION OF BOAT PEOPLE, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTILATERAL
SYSTEM OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. IF REPATRIATION BECOMES
THE POLICY ADOPTED THROUGHOUT S.E. ASIA, THAT WILL LESSON OUR OWN EXPOSURE ON A PROCEDURE WHICH IS BOUND TO ATTRACT A GREAT
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL