TNAG-1787-FCO40-2547-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 38

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MDLOAN 7741

NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, WHOSE MAJORITY ARE BELIVED TO BE ECONOMIC MIGRANTS RATHER THAN GENUINE REFUGEES.

FACED WITH THIS DETERIORATING SITUATION, ALLEGEDLY THE CONSEQUENCE OF A WAR WHICH IN FACT ENDED 13 YEARS AGO, THE COUNTRIES AND TERRITORY, WHICH IN THE PAST HAVE OFFERED TEMPORARY HAVEN TO THE BOAT PEOPLE PENDING THEIR RESETTLEMENT HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED. THEY TAKE THE VIEW THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO ASSUME THE BURDEN OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHOSE FUTURE SHOULD LIE NOT IN THE WEST BUT IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY VIETNAM. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND HONG KONG HAVE EACH INTRODUCED NEW POLICIES. IN THAILAND, NEW ARRIVALS ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT AND THE PHANAT NIKHOM HOLDING CENTRE HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THEM. MALAYSIA HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CLOSE THE PULAU BIDANG CAMP. HONG KONG HAS INTRODUCED A SYSTEM OF SCREENING, UNDER WHICH THOSE WHO ARE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE DETAINED IN CLOSED CAMP S PENDING THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM WHEN SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN.

ALL THIS CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM AFFECTING VIETNAMESE CITIZENS. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS DONE ITS BEST TO MANAGE THE PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS WITH PATIENCE AND RESTRAINT. WE BELIEVE. THE TIME HAS COME FOR VIETNAM TO PLAY ITS FULL PART IN RESOLVING IT. THE TWELVE URGE THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO TAKE EFFECTIVE STEPS TO SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THESE DEPARTURES AND TO MAKE SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO PERMIT THE RETURN OF ALL VIETNAMESE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE FOUND NOT TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES. TWELVE WELCOME VIETNAM'S RECENT DECISION TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION WITH UNHCR AND WITH PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE

IT IS REGION, INCLUDING THAILAND, MALAYSIA AND HONG KONG. ESSENTIAL THAT VIETNAM COOPERATES WITH ALL CONCERNED SO THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND IN A HUMANE MANNER. TEXT ENDS.

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