TNAG-1534-FCO40-2098-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 161

CONFIDENTIAL

OCMIAN 1966

CONFIDENTIAL

RR GEMIS

FM FCOLN TO GEMIS

062335Z JUN

GRS 378

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA

TELNO 212

NO DISTRIBUTION

HHH 243/8

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 9 JUN 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

OF 062335Z JUNE 86

41966 - 1

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF HKD WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 1567 OF 22.5.86

INFO PRIORITY HANOI

FROM JEAFFRESON FOR HUM.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.

1. FURTHER TO MY TELNO 1465 WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY THE

AMERICANS AND CANADIANS. THE SUBJECT ALSO CAME UP WHEN THE

SECRETARY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF MIGRATION AND ETHNIC

AFFAIRS VISITED HONG KONG THIS WEEK.

2. THE AMERICANS ASKED FOR AN INFORMAL MEETING TO DISCUSS

INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. THEY EXPLAINED THAT, GIVEN THE DIMINISHING

PROSPECTS FOR RESETTLEMENT AND THE PRESENT HIGH RATE OF ARRIVALS, THEY THOUGH THAT THIS SOULUTION WAS WORTHY OF FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE SPEAKING INFORMALLY ON BEHALF OF

THE USCG HERE. BUT WE GATHERED THAT THE OPPOSITION TO INVOLUNTARY

REPATRIATION IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR HAD REDUCED

CONSIDERABLY.

1

CONFIDENTIAL