CONFIDENTIAL
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THE SITUATION IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES REMAINS STABLE. ALTHOUGH ARRIVALS ARE UP IN MALAYSIA, WE HOPE THAT INCREASED OFF-TAKE WILL PREVENT AN OVERWHELMING INCREASE IN CAMP POPULATION. CAMP-POPULATION LEVELS DO NOT PRESENT A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME IN INDONESIA OR THE PHILIPPINES.
WE ARE MAKING STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE FIRST ASYLUM. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CONTINUING RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM THE REGION AT HIGH RATES. WE ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO EXPAND THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM, MAKING IT A MORE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO ESCAPE FROM VIETNAM BY BOAT.
YOUR REFUGEE CHIEF HAS RECENTLY MADE TRIPS TO THE ASEAN COUNTRIES ARGUING FOR A UNIFORM REGIONAL POLICY ON LIMITATIONS ON FIRST ASYLUM FOR REFUGEES. SUCH A POLICY WOULD REPRESENT A SERIOUS DETERIORATION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES AND IS CONTRARY TO OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE MAINTENANCE OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THAILAND.
WE HOPE THAT THE HKG WILL RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF EACH OF THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES HAVE LED TO DIFFERENT POLICIES AND WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A UNIFORM AND MORE RESTRICTIVE REGIONAL POLICY.
CONFIDENTIAL
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