TNAG-1797-FCO40-2557-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 225

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5. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORMALLY SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE THAIS (AS THE ONLY ASEAN MEMBER OF EXCOM) THE AUSTRALIANS

AND ANY OTHER INFLUENTIAL WESTERN MISSIONS YOU THINK APPROPRIATE. THIS MIGHT BEST BE DONE DISCREETLY IN THE MARGINS OF THE OPEN

HOUSE MEETING ON 13 SEPTEMBER. IF YOU WERE TO FIND ANY DEGREE OF

AGREEMENT WE COULD WORK UP A TEXT HERE. THE THRUST OF THE

DECISION WOULD BE TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE RENEWED OUTFLOWS

BOAT PEOPLE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND TO ENCOURAGE MOVES TOWARDS

DURABLE SOLUTIONS PARTICULARLY REPATRIATION IT SHOULD BE

POSSIBLE TO AVOID ANY CRITICISM OF UNHCR, PROVIDED THAT A SUITABLE UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN REACHED.

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I AM COPYING THIS TELELETTER TO ROBERT FOOTMAN (HKD) AND

TONY GODSON (SEAD).

SIGNED NICK THORNE

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