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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 be possible to identify a basis for international action, perhaps in the context of an improvement in the political climate in Indo-China. It is frankly difficult. to see what
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 both to the Home Office and to the Hong Kong determination to explore all avenues which could lead to a definitive cessation of the pressures on them.
demonstrate
Government
the
22. We should need to handle the matter very carefully, seeking to avoid taking too overt a lead and to bring other governments and the UNHCR with us. We believe that the 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
than those associated with any bilateral
approach
involuntary repatriation. Our multilateral consultations 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.
to
Vietnam
over
We have informally consulted Hong Kong, UKMis Geneva and our posts in Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on these proposals. Hong Kong agree generally with what is proposed, while expressing disappointment that we do not see involuntary repatriation as a possible option now or in the medium term. UKMis Geneva have advised that at working
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