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SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1988

VISIT USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE: DAVIES

THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO HANOI,

MR EMRYS DAVIES, HAS VISIT TO HONG

DESCRIBED AS "PRODUCTIVE" AND "USEFUL" HIS FOUR-DAY KONG.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE LEAVING HONG KONG TODAY (SUNDAY). MR DAVIES SAID HE HAD HAD EXTREMELY USEFUL DISCUSSIONS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP AND SENIOR

ON THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE ISSUE.

GOVERNMENT

WITH THE OFFICIALS

"I WAS ABLE TO TELL THEM IN SOME DETAILS OF THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM AND IMMEDIATE REACTION OF THE VIETNAMESE TO THE NEW POLICY," MR DAVIES SAID.

"IT IS ALSO GOOD FOR ME TO FEEL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, AND THE SITUATION."

THAT I AM FULLY UP-TO-DATE FEELINGS, THE FACTS OF THE

LONDON

ON

THE

ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD BE MEETING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHILE IN LONDON, MR DAVIES SAID: "I SHALL DISCUSS WITH THE PEOPLE IN AS TO WHAT WE DO NOW, WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, DEPENDING VIETNAMESE REACTION.

RESPONSE

HE SAID IT WAS UNLIKELY THERE WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIVE FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE END OF THEIR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE.

NEW

THE

WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON UNHCR'S REACTION TO HONG KONG'S POLICY ON VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS, MR DAVIES SAID HE HAD BEEN TOLD BY UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG THAT IT HAD NO OBJECTION AS LONG AS THE MATTER WAS MANAGED IN A PROPER MANNER.

(THE UNITED NATIONS WAS PERHAPS A LITTLE

ON

"BUT THE TIMING, THEY FELT, OR MR HOCKE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES) FELT, UNFORTUNATE GIVEN HIS EFFORTS TO PRODUCE A SOLUTION MULTI-LATERAL BASIS.

OTHER

"THAT'S A MATTER OF JUDGEMENT, IT MAY BE THE CASE ON THE HAND, THE SITUATION HAD DEVELOPED SO QUICKLY HERE THAT 1 DON'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT HAD ANY ALTERNATIVE BUT TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THEY DID."

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