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HKD 243/8
TOP COPY a DIST
743
020317
MREIAN 9861
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FM HANOI
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 243
OF 04030OZ JUL 88
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, HKGO LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA
FCO TELNO 1629 OF 22 JUNE 1988:
(369)
HONG KONG BOAT PEOPLE: PUBLICITY
1. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THERE HAS BEEN NO COVERAGE OF HONG
KONG'S CHANGE IN POLICY AS SUCH ON TV OR RADIO OR IN THE NEWSPAPERS.
2. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN STATEMENTS ABOUT ILLEGAL DEPARTURES. IN INTERVIEW WITH VNA ON 27 JUNE WHICH WAS
PUBLISHED IN THE NATIONAL PRESS ON 29 JUNE AND WHICH HAS BEEN
BROADCAST ON THE RADIO, NGUYEN CO THACH, INTER ALIA, SAID
1 VIETNAM'S LAW FORBIDS THE ILLEGAL DEPARTURE OF VIETNAMESE FOR
OTHER COUNTRIES AND STIPULATES PUNISHMENTS FOR THEM. VIETNAM
WILL, TOGETHER WITH THAILAND AS WELL AS WITH ANY OTHER SINGLE COUNTRY HOLD TALKS TO SOLVE THE ILLEGAL DEPARTURE OF VIETNAMESE
FOR OTHER CUITBSWES. VIETNAM HAS BROACHED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONM (SIC) TO GET ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO FLED THE COUNTRY AND WHO NOW WANT TO RETURN HOME FOR LIVING''.
3. ALSO ON 2 JUNE THE MINISTRIES OF INTERIOR AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PREPARED A STATEMENT ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH VIETNAMESE
CAN APPLY TO EMIGRATE LEGALLY AND HOW THEY SHOULD GO ABOUT IT. Ι HAVE REPORTED THIS SEPARATELY. THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS
ON 24 JUNE AND THE AUTHORITEIES TELL US THAT IT WILL BE WIDELY
PUBLICISED IN LOCAL PRESS AND ON RADIO. ONE SENTENCE SAYS
''ILLEGAL DEPATURES ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN''.
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