Mr Colvin, SEAD
PS/Lord Brabazon
CCS;
Mr Gillmore
Mr
McLaren
Mr Paul, HKGD
Mr Haswell,
HKGD MAED
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начуду
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Hic B RECLIVED IN RECH
12 MAR 1990
243 12+
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"Y
Mr Beetham,
Chancery, Kuala Lumpur
BILATERAL MEETING BETWEEN MR MAUDE AND THE MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, DATO ABU HASSAN, KUCHING, 16 FEBRUARY
1.
Mr Maude saw the Malaysian Foreign Minister for half an hour this afternoon. He congratulated Dato' Abu Hassan on the organisation of the EC/ASEAN Conference and then spoke about the Vietnamese boat people problem, on the lines of his earlier discussion with the Thai Foreign Minister. Abu Hassan recalled that the Vietnamese had wanted a 1 October date for mandatory repatriation: Malaysia could accept this. Mr Maude pointed out that it was too late for Hong Kong. 35,000 VBP had arrived last year and arrivals in January were already up by 40%. Even by the July date we could expect another 20,000 in Hong Kong. He wanted to discuss a possible way forward: Malaysia was under similar pressures to Hong Kong would they be able to support a consensus on 1 July between the countries most closely involved, with UNHCR agreement?
--
2. Abu Hassan referred to his recent meeting with the Vietnamese. Discussions had been fruitful though the question had not been resolved. Vietnam divided those going back into
three categories - those who volunteered, those who did not
mind, and those who had been forced. There would be a further meeting, in Kuala Lumpur, in mid-March. If they reached
agreement on the third category, it would then be possible to
We
approach the US. Malaysia's view was very much on the same lines as the UK's. Mr Maude said this was very helpful. It would obviously be important to have UNHCR involvement. It would be better for them to handle the channelling of money. were pressing the US to provide more funding for voluntary repatriation. It would be helpful if Malaysia would also put pressure on them. The Americans' number one priority was to retain first asylum. Were the Malaysians reviewing their policy? Abu Hassan said he wanted to go along with the CPA. would be a limit to first asylum. The policy would have to be reviewed three years after the last Conference. The pressure was very strong. Malaysia proposed to follow the UK's example over resettlement assistance.
But there
3. Mr Maude queried the distinction between Vietnam's second and third categories: it was impossible to tell who would resist until one tried, so escorts were essential. The Vietnamese were basically worried about publicity. Hashim Taib agreed but
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