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be
and it is by no means certain that such discussions would agree on an internationally acceptable definition between economic migrants and refugees. But in the longer term if
may
possible to identify
basis a
for international
action, perhaps in the context of an improvement in the political climate in Indo-China. It is frankly difficult to see what other approach offers any prospect whatsoever of going to the root of the problem posed to Hong Kong and to national governments by Vietnamese refugees. And there
would be the immediate benefit for us that we could
demonstrate both to the Home Office and to the Hong Kong
Government our determination to explore all avenues which
could lead to a definitive cessation of the pressures on
them.
22
us.
We should need to handle the matter very carefully, seeking to avoid taking too overt a lead and to bring other
the UNHCR with governments and
the We believe that
problem of economic migrants is already the subject of in formal and periodic discussion between representatives of the main resettlement countries in Geneva, and we might
seek to become involved in such disucssions.
Our
participation in an existing forum of this kind would help to reduce any problems of public presentation: there would then be significantly less than those associated with any
bilateral
approach
Our repatriation.
to
Vietnam
over
multilateral consultations
involuntary
could
be
defended as a necessary attempt to clarify and understand an intractable long-term problem, to which resettlement was evidently not providing a definitive solution.
23. We have informally consulted Hong Kong, UKMis Geneva and our posts in Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on these is Hong Kong proposals.
with what agree generally
we do not proposed, while expressing disappointment that see involuntary repatriation as a possible option now or in the medium term. UKMis Geneva have advised that at working
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