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TOP COPY Q DIST ?
783,
062756
MDLIAN 6129
MKD 243.18
12321908
FICE
RESTRICTED
FM CANBERRA
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 740
OF 12060OZ SEPTEMBER 88
AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG, BANGKOK
I mu
REPATRIATION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG
1. FIRST SECRETARY RECEIVED A DELEGATION OF 4 VIETNAMESE FROM SYDNEY WHO PRESENTED A PETITION SIGNED BY 7,000 PEOPLE ADDRESSED TO ME AND TO THE THAI AMBASSADOR. THE PETITION STATED
DEAR EXCELLENCIES, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND AUSTRALIANS EARNESTLY CALL UPON YOUR GOVERNMENTS TO RECONSIDER THEIR POLICIES
OF RETURNING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM THAILAND AND HONG KONG BACK TO VIETNAM WITH THE INESCAPABLE RESULT, FOR THOSE REFUGEES, OF FACING INHUMAN PERSECUTION. WE APPEAL TO THE HUMANITARIAN
TRADITIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS OF THE
KINGDOM OF THAILAND KNOWN AS THE LAND OF THE BUDDHA, SYMBOL OF COMPASSION THE SIGNATORIES INCLUDED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE NSW UPPER HOUSE, LOCAL ALDERMEN AND THE FEDERAL OPPOSITION'S
SHADOW MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS.
·
2. FIRST SECRETARY EXPLAINED THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH HAD NECESSITATED
THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW POLICY IN HONG KONG FROM 16 JUNE AND
EMPHASISED THAT THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS WOULD
BE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION HUMANITARIAN FACTORS IN THEIR
ATTEMPTS TO ACHIEVE AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR REPATRIATION. THE
VIETNAMESE WERE CONSIDERABLY MOLLIFIED BY THE EXPLANATION, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED AS THEY WERE PRESSING FOR US
NOT TO GO AHEAD WITH ANY REPATRIATION AT ALL.
3. THE VIETNAMESE MADE NO REFERENCE TO ALLEGATIONS OF ILL
TREATMENT OF DETAINEES REFERRED TO IN HONG KONG TELEGRAM TO FCO N 03 303.
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