TNAG-1743-FCO40-2462-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 98

CONFIDENTIAL

8.

The group

The UK has attended

Japan is a meber of the Intergovernmental Consultative Group on

Indo-Chinese refugees (ICG), an informal group established to

discuss ways ahead on the Indo-Chinese refugee problem.

comprises the US, Canada, Australia and Japan.

recent meetings as an observer. UNHCR is also an observer. At the

October 1987 ICG it was agreed that the UNHCR should attempt to

engage the Vietnamese in discussion of acceptable repatriation arrangements. At the April 1988 meeting it became clear that participants were unlikely to oppose tougher deterrent measures for those who do not meet refugee criteria. Progress is slow, primarily

because of Vietnamese intransigence even on voluntary repatriation.

Within the ICG, Japan tends to follow the US line and rarely suggests independent initiatives.