CONFIDENTIAL
CL53
MDHOAN 9301
NO VALIDITY IN THE ARGUMENT THAT THE HONG KONG DECISION WILL
DELAY AND COMPLICATE THE PROSPECT OF A CO-ORDINATED RESPONSE FROM OTHER FIRST ASYLUM GOVERNMENTS EITHER ON SCREENING PROCEDURES OR ON APPROACHES TO VIETNAM ON RETURN OF NON-REFUGEES. CLEAR THAT CONTINUED RESETTLEMENT REMAINS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE ASEAN
FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES AT THIS STAGE. THE HONG KONG DECISION COULD BECOME THE CATALYST FOR POSITIVE ACTION ON NON-RESETTLEMENT
SOLUTIONS BY THE ASEAN FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES.
DO NOT AGREE THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING PROCEDURES
MUST AWAIT RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM OF THE RETURN OF THOSE SCREENED-OUT. THE EXISTENCE OF A LARGE AND GROWING SCREENED-OUT POPULATION IN THE REGION MAY WELL OBLIGE FIRST ASYLUM GOVERNMENTS
AND HANOI TO TAKE ACTION ON REPATRIATION.
COMMENT
3. WE HAVE THANKED THE AUSTRALIANS FOR THEIR ROBUST APPORACH, WHICH IS GENERALLY VERY WELCOME. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO PUT SIMILAR PRESSURE ON UNHCR AT THIS WEEK'S EXCOM MEETING. HOWEVER THEIR EMPHASIS ON QUOTE NON-RESETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS UNQUOTE
SUGGESTS THAT THE PROSPECTS OF A MAJOR NEW RESETTLEMENT
COMMITMENT. FROM AUSTRALIA ARE NOT GOOD.
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
128
ΜΑΙΝ
125
J
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
SPD
LIMITED
FED
HKD
NEWS
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
SED
PUSD
ECD (1)
ECD (E)
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
ADDITIONAL 3
MRS WYETH ODA.
HKGO LONDON
MR FLESHER BY DIV HO
LUNAR HOUSE
NNNN
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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