CONFIDENTIAL FM FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKBY 052230Z CANBERRA
TELNO 526
OF 05165OZ AUGUST 88
INFO DESKBY 06010OZ KUALA LUMPUR
118
141340
MDHOAN 1939
HKD 243
3/5
22 AUG 198
N
FOR PRIME MINISTER'S PARTY ON BOARD VC10.
MEETING WITH DR MAHATHIR: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1.
AS YOU WILL SEE FROM OTHER CHANNELS,
DR MAHATHIR MAY SEEK THE PRIME MINISTER'S SUPPORT FOR A MINISTERIAL LEVEL CONFERENCE ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR. THIS IS A MALAYSIAN PROPOSAL ENDORSED BY ASEAN. UK MINISTERS HAVE NOT CONSIDERED IT, BUT OFFICIALS ARE CAUTIOUS. WE FEAR THAT SUCH A POLITICAL CONFERENCE WOULD BE SIDE-TRACKED
INTO OTHER ISSUES AND AWAY FROM THE OVERRIDING NEED FOR VIETNAM TO TAKE BACK HER BOAT PEOPLE. IF DR MAHATHIR MENTIONS IT, THE PRIME MINISTER MAY WISH TO BE NON-COMMITTAL, ASKING DR MAHATHIR HOW HE THINKS SUCH A CONFERENCE WOULD HELP AND STRESSING THAT
IT WOULD REQUIRE VERY CAREFUL PREPARATION.
2. IF DR MAHATHIR RAISES THE QUESTION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL, OUR POLICY IS THAT VIETNAM SHOULD TAKE MEASURES TO STEM THE OUTFLOW AND TAKE BACK ALL WHO ARE NOT GENUINE REFUGEES BUT ECONOMIC MIGRANTS, WHETHER THEY WISH TO RETURN OR NOT, SINCE THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR THEM OUTSIDE VIETNAM.
CHALKER
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
35
LIMITED
SEAD
HKD
PS
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DISTRIBUTION
35
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
MR GILLMORE
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