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United Kingdom Mission
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N A Thorne Esq
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PA
Baken
Your reference
Our reference
Date
29 July 1988
LA
-1
=resolution report. deusia rascu must in passed by conserous
остара
✓
Dear Mck
VIETNAMESE BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
1.
and same
рековый
icans
SSO
Peter Millett sought Delia Walker's views on a possible decision at EXCOM in October to maintain the pressure on the Vietnamese to resolve the outflow of boat-people.
2. We can see some merits in such action, but the proposal seems disproportionately heavy-handed. To be successful, I think we would have to look to another member to introduce the draft decision; otherwise it would appear too much parti-pris on our part.
3.
UNHCR
Carry round
We see no point in over-stressing our Hong Kong difficulties at EXCOM. Gradually, UNHCR is coming round to support the screening mechanism in Hong Kong (this was confirmed to me earlier this week by Bayandor), even if they are likely to express continuing concern about the conditions in the closed camps. At the same time the Vietnamese attitude is softening, although there is a long way to go before we can be sure that Vietnam will take back its "illegal emigrants".
4. Although the ICG countries, and indeed ASEAN, seem to be pulling in the same direction, there are a lot of under-currents relating principally to hard-line attitudes in Thailand and Malasia. Provided progress is maintained with the Vietnamese, I think it would be better to leave things as they are. Indo-China refugee problems will be looked at in detail, but we should not over-do our concerns. The problems facing other regions, particularly in Africa, are enormous by any standards.
/5.
RESTRICTED
-1-
Sit on it 2 weeks
you could make it indicit
see how purs react
-no new for olunan
- no need to k as
PTM
to talks
volutis bastis
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