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163147
MDHOAN 5907
FOR UPTON, SECURITY BRANCH FROM HKD
TELECON UPTON/FOOTMAN: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: EC DEMARCHE IN HANOI
D
751
1. THE TEXT OF THE LETTER DATED 14 SEPTEMBER FROM SLATER TO FRENCH AND THE TEXT OF THE DEMARCHE ARE REPEATED BELOW. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNT FROM THE FRENCH THAT THE DEMARCHE WAS MADE ON 13 SEPTEMBER.
2. TEXT OF LETTER.
BEGINS. THE IDEA OF A DEMARCHE BY THE TWELVE IN HANOI WAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE AT THE ASIA WORKING GROUP MEETING OF 6 JULY AND THE UK WAS INVITED TO CIRCULATE PROPOSALS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR EC PARTNERS SINCE JULY TO AGREE THE TEXT OF THE DEMARCHE. THE TEXT FINALLY AGREED UPON IS ENCLOSED. ON 5 SEPTEMBER THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES INSTRUCTED THEIR EMBASSY IN HANOI TO MAKE THE DEMARCHE.
THE TEXT IS THE RESULT OF LENGTHY NEGOTIATIONS WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS BUT PARTICULARLY WITH THE FRENCH AND GERMANS. WE HAVE PUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT INTO PERSUADING OUR PARTNERS OF THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM AND THE IMMENSE BURDEN IT IS PLACING ON HONG KONG. REACH.
THIS TEXT IS THE BEST COMPROMISE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IT IS THE LATEST OF SEVERAL VERSIONS AND HAS BEEN DRAWN UP BY THE PRESIDENCY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PARTNERS AT VARIOUS STAGES.
THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTIES WHICH AROSE WERE:
A) OVER REFERENCES TO COMPULSORY RETURNS: VARIOUS PARTNERS, NOTABLY GERMANY AND FRANCE WISHED THE DEMARCHE TO REFER ONLY
TO VOLUNTARY RETURNS.
B) FURTHER TO THIS, SOME PARTNERS WERE UNHAPPY THAT IN URGING VIETNAM QUOTE TO TAKE BACK ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT GENUINE REFUGEES UNQUOTE, THE RIGHT OF ANYONE TO RETURN TO HIS COUNTRY MIGHT BE UNDERMINED.
C) SIMILARLY ONE OF OUR TEXTS WHICH CALLED ON VIETNAM TO
QUOTE STEM THE OUTFLOW UNQUOTE WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE FRENCH AND GERMANS SINCE THEY FELT IT MIGHT IMPLY AN EROSION
OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO
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