CONFIDENTIAL
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1
USCG HAD COMMENTED ON THIS UNFAVOURABLY. WE EXPLAINED THAT THE BACKGROUND TO SUCH EDITORIALS LAY IN HONG KONG'S GROWING
'COMPASSION FATIGUE' WITH THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM PLUS HONG KONG'S SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH ROUTINE REPATRIATION TO CHINA OVER
MANY YEARS. NEIGHBOUR BELIEVED THERE WOULD BE VERY STRONG AND EMOTIVE RESISTANCE TO ANY SUCH PROPOSAL AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN WASHINGTON. HE AGREED TO SEEK GUIDANCE ON HOW STATE SAW THE ECONOMIC MIGRANT PROBLEM, AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ALL THOSE LEAVING INDOCHINA IRREGULARLY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE DEFINED AS REFUGEES, AS ESTABLISHED AT THE 1979 GENEVA CONFERENCE. IN THIS CONTEXT, HE ALSO AGREED TO ASCERTAIN HIS GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE UNHCR/THAI SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR LAOTIAN ARRIVALS IN
THAILAND.
3.
WE WILL REPORT ANY FURTHER US EMBASSY RESPONSE TO OUR
APPROACH. MEANWHILE WE SEE MERIT IN YOUR DRAWING THE LAST
SENTENCE OF PARA 4 OF WASHINGTON TUR TO THE ATTENTION OF UNHCR HONG KONG, AND YOU MAY ALSO WISH TO SPREAD A SIMILAR MESSAGE IN
THE CAMPS YOURSELVES.
HOWE
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
SEAD
HKD
UND
FKD
NEWS D
MAED
P8
PS/MR RENTON
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
SIR W HARDING MR SLATER MR WILSON
CONFID
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