TNAG-1794-FCO40-2554-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 27

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MINISTERIAL MEETING: ATHENS, 18 JULY

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RECEIVE

STEERING BRIEF

Vietnamese Boat People

"GISTRY

14 JUL 1988

Toms

The meeting will provide an opportunity to emphasise our concern about the problem of Vietnamese boat people. The Asia Working Group meeting of 6 July agreed that the Twelve should make a joint demarche in Hanoi. This would help to maintain pressure on Vietnam in parallel with Vietnam's talks with UNHCR and places of first asylum in the region. The terms and timing of the demarche

are under consideration by Cor eu. Our aim is for the demarche to be toughly worded and for it to take place as soon as possible.

CONFIDENTIAL