CONFIDENTIAL
нко 243/8
456
026026
MDHIAN 6150
CONFIDENTIAL
FM JAKARTA
TO DESKBY 06080OZ FCO
TELNO 245
OF 060645Z JULY 88
TOP COP
ST
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, MANILA INFO ROUTINE BANDAR SERI BAGAWAN, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 1784 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REQUEST FOR TALKS
1. THE INDONESIANS ARE LIKELY TO WELCOME BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN HMG AND VIETNAM. INDEED SUCH DISCUSSIONS WOULD ANSWER THEIR QUESTION (RAISED BY THE DFA HERE WHEN WE CALLED ON 14 JUNE TO EXPLAIN THE RECENT CHANGE IN POLICY ON HONG KONG REFUGEES) AS TO HOW WE MIGHT PERSUADE THE VIETNAMESE TO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF REFUGEES UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS COUR TELNO 226).
2. THE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE DOES NOT CAUSE GREAT CONCERN HERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSIVE REDUCTIONS IN NUMBERS AT THE REFUGEE CAMP ON GALANG ISLAND AND ONLY SOME 1800 NOW REMAIN INCLUDING ABOUT 460 LONG-STAYERS. UNHCR TOLD FRENCH (PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY IN HONG KONG) IN APRIL THAT GALANG MAY CLOSE BY END OF 1989. INDONESIA CONTINUES TO REFUSE LOCAL SETTLEMENT TO BOAT PEOPLE AND IS SATISFIED WITH FOREIGN, PARTICULARLY US, OFFTAKE.
3.
IN THE NAME OF ASEAN SOLIDARITY THE INDONESIANS DO HOWEVER SHARE THE CONCERNS OF THAILAND MALAYSIA OVER REFUGEES AND ARE IN FAVOUR OF URGING VIETNAM TO TAKE MORE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT ECONOMIC MIGRANTS FROM LEAVING. IN A WIDER CONTEXT THEY SEE SUCH PRESSURE AS A BARGAINING CHIP AGAINST HANOI IN RETURN FOR A RESUMPTION OF AID. HOWEVER GIVEN THE RELATIVE LACK OF CONCERN OVER THE REFUGEE ISSUE HERE THE INDONESIANS ARE UNLIKELY TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN ANY ASEAN DIALOGUE WITH HANOI DESPITE THEIR RELATIVELY CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM OVER THE CAMBODIA ISSUE (ON WHICH INDONESIA IS ASEAN'S OFFICIAL INTERLOCUTOR WITH HANOI).
5.
4
WE HAVE NO INDICATION FOR THE DFA THAT THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY THE VIETNAMESE (PARA 6 OF TUR).
WHITE
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