TNAG-1787-FCO40-2547-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 61

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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MDLIAN 3091

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FM LA HAY E COREU

TO ATHENS COREU PRIORITE

INFO ALL COREU

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HKD 243

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15.7.88 19.10 HRS L.T. CPE/HAG 295

18 JUL 1988

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OBJET: VIETNAM AND THE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROBLEM REF : CPE/LON/350 AND 352

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THE NETHERLANDS AGREES BY AND LARGE TO THE TEXT OF A DEMARCHE BY THE TWELVE TO VIETNAM AS PROPOSED BY THE UK AND SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL THAT THE APPROACH BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENCY IN HANOI AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER, THE NETHERLANDS WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:

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IN THE FIRST LINE OF THE TEXT IT WOULD NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE ''TO EXPRESS CONCERN AT ILLEGAL

DEPARTURES.

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SINCE ILLEGAL DEPARTURES ARE TYPICAL IN REFUGEE OR REFUGEE-LIKE SITUATIONS. WHAT RAISES THE CONCERN OF THE TWELVE IS THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATION INSIDE VIETNAM, WHICH CONTINUES TO LEAD TO A STEADY FLOW OF CITIZENS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE NETHERLANDS THEREFORE WOULD PREFER THE FOLLOWING

WORDING:

EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN AT THE

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C I RCUMSTANCES WHIC H CONTINUE T O CAUSE ILLEGAL DEPARTURES

·

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ALSO, IN LINE 40 THE WORDING ''TO CONTROL ILLEGAL DEPARTURES WOULD APPEAR LESS SUITABLE AND COULD WELL BE REPLACED BY: ''TO OBVIATE THE NEED FOR ILLEGAL DEPARTURES

·

IN LINE 41 AND 42 THE WORDING PROPOSED WOULD NOT SEEM

TO ACCOMMODATE THE TWELVE'S POSITION RELATING TO THE RIGHT OF EVERYONE TO RETURN TO HIS/HER COUNTRY: ALL VIETNAMESE (INCLUDING REFUGEES) WHO WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY, SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO DO SO, FREELY AND SAFELY. CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS PROPOSED TO REPHRASE THESE LINES AS FOLLOWS.

"

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AND TO MAKE SUITABLE

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