COZAIR
ALL ON SECRETARY OF STATE BY SENATOR EVANS, AUSTRALIAN MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, 13 MARCH 1989
Objectives
to maintain Australian support during preparation for June
International Conference on Indo-Chinese refugees.
to stress importance of rapid progress on HK/Australia Air
Services Agreement.
Points to make
Vietnamese Boat People
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Grateful for Australian support for Hong Kong's screening/ repatriation policy and for agreement to double current offtake of
Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong.
Outcome of PrepCon in Kuala Lumpur highly satisfactory.
Important that Vietnamese have now subscribed to principle that all non-refugees should return to their country of origin.
Repatriation of first batch of 75 volunteers to Vietnam seems to have gone well Positive press reports. Must build on this.
Ultimate aim must be return of all non-refugees. This is still a difficult concept for some, particularly the Americans, despite their own tougher approach towards Central American asylum seekers.
Will need to work hard to maintain momentum as we move towards
the June International Conference. Must aim for resettlement of
all refugees and repatriation of all non-refugees.
Hong Kong/Australia Air Service Agreement
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Separation of Air Service Agreements (ASAS) in interest both of Hong Kong and of other countries involved, providing greater degree