XN000022-1988-10-08 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1988

JOINT TEAM TO PRESS FOR VBP REPATRIATION

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THE JOINT UK/HK TEAM WILL PRESS FOR THE REPATRIATION OF ALL THOSE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DURING THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS WITH VIETNAM NEXT WEEK, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE LEAVING FOR LONDON, MR BARNES SAID THE UK/HK SIDE WOULD ALSO BE PRESSING THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO STOP THE OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE LEAVING VIETNAM FOR HONG

KONG.

"AND THIRDLY, WE SHALL BE PRESSING THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ALSO TO ACCEPT THE EARLY REPATRIATION OF THOSE VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE REQUESTED A RETURN TO VIETNAM, HE SAID.

H

MR BARNES SAID THESE AIMS WOULD BE VERY MUCH THE SAME AS WHAT THE UK/HK SIDE HAD DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS.

HE ADDED THAT BOTH SIDES WOULD ISSUE A JOINT STATEMENT END OF THE TALKS.

AT

THE

HANOI WOULD ANY

FOR ASKED WHETHER THE QUESTION OF FINANCIAL AIDS SAID THE BE DISCUSSED DURING THE TALKS, MR BARNES

OF QUESTION FINANCIAL AIDS WAS LIKELY TO COME UP DURING THE COURSE OF THE TALKS.

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I THINK WE WOULD SEE IT AS BEING VERY MUCH A PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE WHICH INCORPORATED THE REPATRIATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO VIETNAM," HE SAID.

MR BARNES SAID THE TALKS WOULD BE HELD AT THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK.

THE JOINT UK/HK TEAM WILL BE LED BY MR ROBIN MCLAREN,

FOREIGN ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE

OFFICE, SUPPORTED BY FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIALS.

THE HONG KONG SIDE

RICHARD CLIFT; MR BARNES SECURITY, MR ALAN FUNG.

WILL AND

INCLUDE

A

PRINCIPAL

THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR

ASSISTANT

FUR SECRETARY

O

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