Foreign and Commonwealth Office
нко 24318
London SW1A 2AH
From The Minister of State
- 4 AUG 1988
OMS R
вуй
2 August 1988
kea,
Mid Stahiv
SEAD
Philip
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N318
You recently asked Geoffrey Howe for details of action being taken in international fora, and bilaterally with the Vietnamese authorities, to resolve the problem of the Vietnamese boat people. I am writing in Geoffrey's absence on leave.
A great deal is happening on this front, and we are actively pursuing a number of openings. Perhaps the most significant developments are taking place bilaterally with the Vietnamese authorities. As you may know, Geoffrey Howe raised the subject with his Vietnamese opposite number in New York on 7 June and spoke forcefully about the need to resolve the problem. Last month the Vietnamese authorities indicated that they were willing to hold talks with UNHCR and the countries of first asylum including Hong Kong
about the matter. meeting with UNHCR duly took place on 20-22 July. As immediate follow-up to this meeting, a delegation from Hong Kong, led by the Political Adviser to the Governor, Mr Dick Clift, are having talks in Hanoi at Vice-Ministerial level on 3 5 August. A senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is participating in these talks.
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I shall also be raising this issue myself when I meet the Vietnamese Ambassador on 4 August.
In these contacts, we shall be pressing the Vietnamese authorities to do more to control the flow of departures, and will try to agree practical arrangements for the return to Vietnam of all those boat people in Hong Kong who have been screened out as non-refugees. Some tough negotiations lie ahead and we do not expect any early breakthrough. But it is nonetheless encouraging that talks have at least begun.
Sir Philip Goodhart MP
House of Commons
LONDON SW1 OAA
/On
602
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