TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 114

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ALDHEIM SAID THE VIETNAMESE HAD BEEN PEDDLING THE LINE TO HIM THAT THE REFUGEE PROBLEM WAS GREATLY EXAGGERATED AND THAT THE REFUGEES WERE A FEW MALCONTENTS WHO HAD LEFT SAIGON VOLUNTARILY. BUT THEY HAD BEEN QUITE UNABLE TO ANSWER WHEN WALDHEIM ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN, WHY, IN THAT CASE THOUSANDS WERE LANDING DAILY ON SHORES OF NEIGHBOURING STATES, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE HAD A MASS OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE THAT THE MAJORITY

OF THE REFUGEES ARRIVING IN HONG KONG CAME FROM NORTH VIETNAM AND THAT THERE WAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED OFFICIAL NETWORK FOR EXPELLING THEM. THIS EVIDENCE COULD EASILY BE PUBLISHED IF NECESSARY. HOWEVER, WALDHEIM'S ADVISERS FELT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT NOT TO DO SO

AT THIS STAGE

6. WALDHEIM WAS IN PREDICTABLY CAUTIOUS FORM BUT THERE STILL SEEMS A GOOD CHANCE THAT HE CAN BE PREVAILED UPON TO ISSUE INVITATIONS IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO FOR A MINISTERIAL MEETING ON OR AROUND 18 JULY IN GENEVA, HE MAY BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE THIS DECISION QUICKLY BY ANY POSITIVE MESSAGE FROM ASEAN COUNTRIES AND SOME OF THE MAJOR LATIN AMERICAN MAIN-LAND COUNTRIES. YOU MAY LIKE TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER VE CAN DO IN CAPITALS TO STIMULATE THESE POSITIVE REACTIONS.

RICHARD

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MR.WOODFIELD

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