C
PTAAEB
HKD 243/7
TALKS WITH DR GASTON SIGUR, 22 APRIL HONG KONG
„VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
FILE
30
teleppur
NB This is nd official repat, I did it for FED to put in a telgar
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rising
2517
Mr McLaren: Stressed seriousness of issue in Hong Kong numbers UK had been discussing possible durable solutions at international meetings such as the ICG. Hong Kong discussing options. Screening of arrivals might well become a necessity if the first asylum principle was not to break down. Asked USA to do more, explained why UK had difficulty [immigration pressures from
elsewhere].
Mr Sigur: Said US had just received letter from Siddhi restating Thailand's commitment to first asylum principle. US wanted UK to
take more Vietnamese refugees.
more.
Mr Kelly: Said the Vietnamese must be persuaded to improve the ODP
The US was prepared to accept those recently released from the Reeducation Camps but Vietnam was refusing to let them leave through the ODP. Vietnam saw the programme as a money spinner and these ethnic Vietnamese had little chance of sending back much foreign currency. The USA was prepared to organise a programme of their own for these people and asked for UK assistance in persuading the Vientamese to agree to this.
Mr Adams: Said the UK had constant dialogue with Vietnam over the ODP and mentioned the success ful negotiation of the repatriation of 4 Vietnamese fishermen recently. The idea of a joint ASEAN approach to the Vietnamese had been raised on Secretary of State's visit to SE Asia recently and Hong Kong were also talking to ASEAN countries.
about this.
Both sides agreed that key was to get Vietnam to leave Cambodia so that talking could begin even if the economic situation would not improve sufficiently to deter potential refugees for a decade or so.
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