TNAG-1794-FCO40-2554-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 25

INFORMAL EXCON

SOUTH EAST ASIA

пражана 30-6-1988.

Mr Chairman,

Australia shares the concerns of other

Governments at the recent upsurge in the outflow of Indochinese refugees which has presented the

international community with a major humnitaria

ine

problem. The countries of first asylum have been faced with unprecedented demands on their resources

when resettlement has declined in the face of the

changing nature of the outrlOW.

In these circumstances it is hardly surprising

that several regional countries of first asylum | have introduced or toreshadowed firmer measures this year

aimed at deterring boat arrivals,

The introduction of those measures reflects

the concern felt by those countries at the continued

outflow.

Australia has indicated to regional countries

its support for their implementation of firm measures

of deterrence providing that

the poliCTES OT deterrence are

implemented in ways which are consistent

with humanitarian concerns

раде

,