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British Embassy
No 1 Ichiban-Cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Telex J22755 (A/B PRODROME)
Telephone 265-5511
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Balbha
R V Court Esq
SEAD
FCO
HUM 243/4-
RECEIVL
EGIST
13 DEC 1986
DESK OFFICER INDEX
Your reference
Our reference
Date
3 December 1986
PA
Hi Rtr
f
Mek
16/12
Dear Robert
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
I called on Horimura, Director of Human Rights and Refugees Division, MFA, on 2 December to discuss Sir Philip Goodhart's proposals for re-settling Vietnamese refugees (your letter of 14 November).
2.
Slightly to my surprise, Horimura did not immediately dismiss the idea. His own words were that he was "neutral" towards it. But he added that he did not see how the idea could be taken forward without first establishing the attitude of the Philippines Government to an influx of Vietnamese refugees.
3.
He reminded me that when there had been a large exodus of Indo-Chinese refugees some 7 or 8 years ago, the idea of ASEAN countries had been very unwelcoming. The Philippines Government had been no exception, and although Mrs Aquino was very different to Marcos, she had her own formidable problems to deal with at the moment and might not welcome being confronted with such a request.
4.
Horimura also said that, if the plan was a starter, it would be very important to ensure that any proposals for the transfer of refugees was fully coordinated with whatever the UNHCR itself might be doing. Hocké, who had visited here earlier this year, was taking a direct personal interest in the problem of Vietnamese refugees, and his previous experience in East Africa and Pakistan had led him to favour local integration of refugees in preference to settlement in distant third countries.
5. We left it that I would report Horimura's initial reaction as being neither positive nor negative, and that I would try to get back to him with more information once we knew the reaction of the Philippines Government.
Yours
ever
Chistophe
CEJ Wilton
cc: Chanceries: Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi
Mr Leeks, HKD/FCO, Mr Trevan, UND/FCO
K Woodhouse Esq, Govt Secretariat, Hong Kong
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