CONFIDENTIAL
161272
MDLOAN 7230
LETTER FROM SIDDHI RESTATING THAILAND'S COMMITMENT TO THE FIRST ASYLUM PRINCIPLE. KELLY ADDED THAT THE VIETNAMESE MUST BE PERSUADED TO IMPROVE THE ODP FURTHER. THE US WAS PREPARED TO ACCEPT THOSE RECENTLY RELEASED FROM THE REEDUCATION CAMPS BUT
VIETNAM WAS REFUSING TO LET THEM LEAVE THROUGH THE ODP. THE US
WAS PREPARED TO ORGANISED A PROGRAMME OF THEIR OWN FOR
THESE PEOPLE AND ASKED FOR UK ASSISTANCE IN PERSUADING THE VIETNAMESE TO AGREE TO THIS. WE SAID THE UK HAD REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH VIETNAM OVER THE ODP AND MENTIONED THE RECENT
SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION OF THE REPATRIATION OF 4 VIETNAMESE
FISHERMEN. A JOINT ASEAN APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE HAD BEEN
MOOTED DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO SE ASIA. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO RAISED THE MATTER WITH THE ASEAN
COUNTRIES.
HONG KONG DOLLAR/US DOLLAR LINK
I THANKED SIGUR FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S SUPPORT ON THIS
QUESTION WITH OTHER US DEPARTMENTS. I THEN PUT THE CASE FOR MAINTAINING THE HK/US DOLLAR LINK, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY FOR FUTURE CONFIDENCE. SIGUR SAID NO MORE THAN THAT HE
UNDERSTOOD OUR POSITION.
UNQUOTE
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
121
MAIN
118
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
ECD (E)
LIMITED
SPD
HKD
FED
SEAD
NEWS
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
SED
PUSD
ECD (I)
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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