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TELNO 133
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INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, UKMIS NEW YORK
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101516
MDLOAN 1009
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. DURING A CALL ON MCLAREN ON 3 JUNE TO DISCUSS CAMBODIA, THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR SAID HE HAD READ WITH INTEREST THE PRESS
REPORTS ON MY VISIT TO HONG KONG. HE WAS IN NO DOUBT ABOUT THE CONCERN OVER THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN THE TERRITORY AND HE HAD SO
INFORMED HIS FOREIGN MINISTRY. BUT VIETNAM WAS IN A DIFFICULT
POSITION. IF IT PREVENTED PEOPLE LEAVING IT WAS CRITICISED FOR
ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS. IF IT ALLOWED THEM TO LEAVE IT WAS CRITICISED FOR CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
2. MCLAREN EMPHASISED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION IN HONG
KONG AND GAVE THE AMBASSADOR AN EXTRACT FROM MY OPENING STATEMENT
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THERE ON 31 MAY. IN THANKING THE
AMBASSADOR FOR HIS EFFORTS, MCLAREN ADDED THAT MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME WOULD HELP TO DEFLECT
CRITICISM OF THE KIND TO WHICH HUNG HAD REFERRED.
HUNG SAID THAT THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WERE PURSUING THIS WITH
BOTH THE UNHCR AND THE USA AND SOME PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE. VIETNAM HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS AND WAS TRYING TO TACKLE THEM.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
43
LIMITED
SEAD
HKD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS
DISTRIBUTION
43
PAGE
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
MR SLATER
1
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