TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 304

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173645

MDLIAN 3055

NOW ON THE SOUTH COAST. THAIS HAD TOLD UNHCR THAT THEY

WERE DETERMINED TO DISCOURAGE CONTINUED HIGH LEVEL ARRIVAL RATES

OF VIETNAMESE. PANAT NIKHOM HOLDING CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE

WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARED (THROUGH RESETTLEMENT), AND ARRIVAL

RATES GREATLY REDUCED (IE. SITUATION WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO

NORMAL) BEFORE THEY COULD REVIEW QUESTION OF RESETTLEMENT OF THOSE IN SITE 2.

COMMENT.

Q

THE THAIS HAVE, FOR THE TIME BEING AT LEAST, DECIDED TO CURTAIL OFFERING FIRST ASYLUM FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. INITIAL REACTION AMONGST DONOR COUNTRIES WAS SURPRISINGLY SUBDUED, WITH THE US AND AUSTRALIANS ADVOCATING UNHCR COOPERATION

INITIAL ACCEPTANCE OF THAI PROPOSALS.

5. FRENCH, VISITING FROM HONG KONG, WILL BE CALLING ON ZAMAN ON 17 MARCH. WE WILL REPORT DEVELOPMENTS.

ΤΟΝΚΙΝ

AND

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

250

CAMBODIA/VIETNAM

STANDARD

SEAD

SAD

FED

NAD

SPD

HKD

ADDITIONAL

2

MR P MCLEAN EAD/ODA

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

252

SOVIET

UND

ECD (E)

CONSULAR

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

CABINET OFFICE

10 DOWNING ST

COL HINTON DI ROW 3F MOD

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