TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 192

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MDHIAN 8425

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INDOCHINESE REFUGEES

ASEAN AND EC MINISTERS SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE PLIGHT OF THOSE WHO HAVE FLED FROM INDOCHINA, INCLUDING THOSE STILL IN REFUGEE TRANSIT CAMPS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES AND THOSE ALONG THE THAI-KAMPUCHEAN BORDER, REMAINED THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS CONCERN. THESE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS HAVE AN INALIENABLE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. THE COMMUNITY IS READY TO ASSIST IN THEIR RETURN. AS LONG AS THE FLOW OF REFUGEES CONTINUES, HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS CO-ORDINATED BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM, THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EASE THE SUFFERING OF THE

REFUGEES AND EXPEDITE THEIR RESETTLEMENT.

A

THE MINISTERS WERE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT

DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE FLOW OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, PROBLEM WHICH ORIGINATED WITH VIETNAM. THEY WERE OF THE VIEW THAT VIETNAM SHOULD, IN CONFORMITY WITH HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES AND IN THE INTEREST OF REGIONAL PEACE, STABILITY AND HARMONY, COOPERATE WITH THE UNHCR, THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM AND THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO FIND A SOLUTION. VIETNAM SHOULD ALSO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET THE AGREED CRITERIA FOR REFUGEE STATUS, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY GUARANTEES AS TO THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN.

ASEAN AND EC MINISTERS STRESSED THEIR DETERMINATION TO

MAINTAIN THEIR COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION.

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