TNAG-1276-FCO40-1626-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 145

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2.MEETING SUCCEEDED IN ACHIEVING AGREEMENT ON CONTINUING

COMMITMENT BY USA CANADA AND AUSTRALIA TO RESETTLEMENT OF

INDO CHINESE REFUGEES BUT AGREEMENT WAS QUALIFIED BY

UNANIMOUS VIEW THAT IN ABSENCE OF PURSUIT OF SOLUTIONS

TO COMPLEMENT RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO

EXPRESS COMMITMENT EXCEPT IN SHORT OR AT BEST MEDIUM

TERMS, RATHER THAN LONGER 7-8 YEAR PERIOD WHICH WAS DIS-

CUSSED INTER ALIA IN BNGKK TEL 7537 26JUL83.REPRESENTATIVES

OF THREE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES EXPRESSED FEARS THAT

FAILURE TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF MEANINGFUL EFFORT TO EXPLORE

ALTERNATIVES TO RESETTLEMENT COULD WEAKEN EXTENT OF

DOMESTIC SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED AND SEEMINGLY OPEN ENDED

RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.

CLEMEN

3.MEETING WAS NOTABLE FOR FACT THAT QUESTION OF VOLUNTARY

REPATRIATION OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEES WAS DISCUSSED IN

MORE DIRECT AND POSITIVE WAY THAN IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED

HERE TO FORE.DOUGLAS SEEMED WILLING TO GIVE U.S.A. SUPPORT

TO NOTION OF REPATRIATION TO CAMBODIA ALTHOUGH STATE

DEPARTMENT MEMBER OF U.S.A. DELEGATION WAS CAREFUL TO

SET OUT EXTENSIVE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO PRECEED

IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY REPATRIATION SCHEME.THERE WAS UNANIMITY

ON VALUE OF ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM (ODP) AS FACTOR IN REDUCING

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