CONFIDENTIAL
031667
MDHIAN 1897
WILL SINCERELY TRY AND CREATE THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE TO ENCOURAGE
VOLUNTEERS. THEY PROMISED TO GIVE THE APPROPRIATE ASSURANCES ABOUT
RETURNEES NOT BEING PUNISHED. ETC. TIN TOLD ME THAT THE VIETNAMESE
STILL HOPE THAT AT LEAST PART OF THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SOLVED
BY A GREATER OFF-TAKE BY RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, BUT HE ALSO SPOKE
QUITE POSITIVELY ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE TEAM PERSUADING LARGE NUMBERS
OF BOAT PEOPLE TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION OF WAYS AND MEANS OR OF THE DETAILS OF RESETTLEMENT
ASSISTANCE.
4. HASHIM SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE TALKS HAD GENUINELY GONE
WELL AND THAT THE MALAYSIANS WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE.
THE QUESTION OF VOLUNTARY VERSUS INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION DOES NOT
SEEM TO CONCERN THEM THAT MUCH. THEY CLEARLY THINK THAT THE MALAYSIAN
AND VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS CAN TOGETHER QUOTE PERSUADE UNQUOTE
BOAT PEOPLE TO RETURN. THE MALAYSIANS AT LEAST SEEM PREPARED TO USE
POWERFUL MEANS OF PERSUASION.
5. MIFT CONTAINS FURTHER COMMENT AND REPORT OF CONVERSATION WITH
TIN OF RELEVANCE TO SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
PARTRIDGE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
106
LIMITED
SEAD
FED
HKD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
DISTRIBUTION
109
SPD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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