TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 276

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO THE

EUROPEAN OFFICE Of the United NatioNS

GENEVA

UN 243/513/1

VORMING

و

His Excellency

John A. Sankey, C.M.G.,

Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom

to the United Nations and other

International Organizations

37-39, rue de Vermont

1211 Geneva 20

Johnn

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

March 4, 1988.

сдуло

itge

Acta Ms -7/3

I understand from my representative who attended the March 2 meeting of the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group (HLWG) that there was an informative discussion about the current refugee situation in Thailand.

My Government welcomes such interest by the member nations of the HLWG. We feel that only a strong international commitment and cooperation with first asylum countries such as Thailand can meet the challenges inherent in massive refugee movements. More specifically, my Government would greatly welcome the renewed dedication of all HLWG members to the resolution of the Indochinese refugee problem. Such dedication will demand much of us all.

First, we must find ways to persuade the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to alter its

refugee-producing policies. As you know, Viet Nam is the root cause of the refugee tragedy in Southeast Asia. Many of the HLWG members enjoy diplomatic relations and varying degrees of influence with Hanoi. We would hope that these links could be employed to maximum humanitarian advantage.

Second, for all our sympathy for the difficulties faced by Thailand, "push-offs" and denial of asylum to boat refugees is a very serious departure from international standards of behavior. None of us can condone actions which put the lives of refugees at risk. My Government, therefore, will continue to urge the Royal Thai Government to maintain its