CONFIDENTIAL
Z
Ochr Leben
سلام
C fa 243/5
183
GPS 437
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI 170706Z MAY 85
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 035 OF 17 MAY 85
ROUTINE INFO: FCO,UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES LONDON, GENEVA (CARTLAND), BRUSSELS (JONES), NEW YORK (DOWARD), WASHINGTON (LO).
(139)
,
YOUR TELNO 34 OF 8 MAY: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
THE OFFICIAL VIETNAMESE LINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THEY WILL DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO PREVENT ILLEGAL BOAT DEPARTURES. 2. LINKAGE TO DEFENSE OF VIETNAMESE TERRITORY IS NOT ALTOGETHER SURPRISING. IT IS AFTER ALL THE SAME NAVAL VESSELS WHICH DO THE TWO JOBS.
3. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS PART OF A NEW INITIATIVE.THE VIETNAMESE DO THIS ALL THE TIME.ANY SENIOR OFFICIAL INVOLVED IN THE ILLEGAL BOAT DEPARTURE TRADE RISKS EXECUTION BUT BY PERIODICALLY SAYING THEY WILL SHOOT AT BOATS (AND BY
EXECUTING CURRUPT OFFICIALS WHEN THEY ARE CAUGHT) THE VIETNAMESE PRESUMABLY HOPE TO DISCOURAGE BOTH THE ORGANISERS AND THEIR WOULD BE ESCAPEES.
137) 4. OUR TELNO 32 OF 6 MAY: UNHCR REP (GULDBERG) REMAINS OF THE VIEW THAT LE DUC THO'S STATEMENT IS A REAFFIRMATION OF THE
PRINCIPLE (EXPRESSED BY PHAM VAN DONG LATE IN 1983) THAT VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT REPATRIATION OF FORMER REFUGEES, BUT ONLY ON A CASE BY CASE INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
5. NIELSEN, UNHCR STAFF MEMBER (PLEASE PROTECT) HAS TOLD US PRIVATELY THAT VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTERCO THÁCH,SPOKE TO AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION MINISTER STEWART WEST WHEN THE LATTER VISITED HANOI LAST WEEK ABOUT REPATRIATION.CO THACH APPARENTLY TOLD WEST THAT HE DID NOT WISH TO ENCOURAGE LARGE SCALE REPATRIATION.HE WOULD ONLY BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS INDIVIDAUL CASES, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
6.
WOOD
FCO PLEASE PASS ALL ADDRESSEES.
(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
SEAD
HKD
UND
FED
NEWS D MAED
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
PS/PUS
MR GOODALL
MR O'NEILL
MR WILSON
SIR W HARDING
MKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
22 MAY 1985
'CER
PA
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