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MDLIAN
2. THESE REGULATIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO GO INTO FORCE THREE MONTHS
AFTER SIGNATURE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT AFTER CONSIDERABLE OBJECTION FROM THE UN FUND FOR POPULATION ACTIVITIES AND THE REST OF THE UN SYSTEM TO
THE MORE COERCIVE PARTS OF THESE REGULATIONS THE VIETNAMESE
AUTHORITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNFPA ARE DRAFTING A NEW SET
WHICH WILL BE MUCH LESS DRACONIAN. THE UNFPA HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS SUCH AS THE ABOVE ''FOLLOWING IN THE CHINESE PATTERN'' WILL CALL INTO QUESTION UNFPA'S ABILITY
TO ASSIST VIETNAM. FURTHERMORE IN AN EFFORT TO REASSURE THE UNFPA
THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE STRESSED THAT THERE ARE IN FACT ''NO LAWS CURRENTLY IN FORCE'' ACCORDING TO WHICH ERRING COUPLES
CAN BE PUNISHED.
3. THUS THE LEGAL POSITION ON THIS ISSUE IS FAIRLY CLEAR, BUT THE SITUATION IN PRACTICE IS CERTAINLY NOT. IT APPEARS TO BE
THE CASE THAT MANY LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR
SO ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO DISCOURAGE COUPLES HAVING MORE THEN TWO CHILDREN. THESE STEPS HAVE INCLUDED FINES AND 'ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES'' SUCH AS DENIAL OF PROMOTION, BONUSES, EXTRA RATIONS, ETC. HOWEVER WE DO NOT THINK THAT PENALTIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN VERY
SEVERE (WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF PRISON SENTENCES) AND WHEREAS MANY STATE EMPLOYEES IN CITIES PROBABLY HAVE GOOD REASON TO COMPLY
WITH THE REGULATIONS THE MOOD IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
QUITE EVIDENTLY SEEMS TO BE THAT EXTRA CHILDREN ARE CHEAP AT THE
PRICE.
DAVIES
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
91
DISTRIBUTION
96
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD
GLENARTHUR
PS/MR PATTEN ODA
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
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