FCO 40/2560
CONFIDENTIAL
144623 MDLOAN 67012
THERE.
THE SITUATION IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES REMAINS STABLE. ALTHOUGH ARRIVALS ARE UP IN MALAYSIA, WE HOPE THAT INCREASED OFF-TAKE WILL PREVENT AN OVERWHELMING INCREASE IN CAMP POPULATION. CAMP-POPULATION LEVELS DO NOT PRESENT A PROBLEM
THIS TIME IN INDONESIA OR THE PHILIPPINES.
WE
WE ARE MAKING STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE FIRST ASYLUM. REMAIN COMMITTED TO CONTINUING RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM THE REGION AT HIGH RATES. WE ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO EXPAND THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM, MAKING IT A MORE VIABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO ESCAPE FROM VIETNAM BY BOAT.
YOUR REFUGEE CHIEF HAS RECENTLY MADE TRIPS TO THE ASEAN COUNTRIES ARGUING FOR A UNIFORM REGIONAL POLICY ON LIMITATIONS OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR REFUGEES. SUCH A POLICY WOULD REPRESENT A SERIOUS DETERIORATION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES AND IS CONTRARY TO OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE MAINTENANCE OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THAILAND.
THE
WE HOPE THAT THE HKG WILL RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF EACH OF THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES HAVE LED TO DIFFERENT POLICIES AND WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A UNIFORM AND MORE RESTRICTIVE REGIONAL POLICY.
ENDS
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
121
ΜΑΙΝ
118
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
ECD (E)
LIMITED
SPD
HKD
FED
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
WED
SED
PUSD
ECD (I)
NEWS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR MCLAREN
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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