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HE PROPOSED THAT A WORKING GROUP EXAMINE THE IMPLICATIONS.
5. COLVIN (UK) IMMEDIATELY POINTED OUT THAT THE ELABORATION OF A NEW DEFINITION OF A REFUGEE WAS WELL BEYOND THE COMPETENCE OF THIS MEETING. THE CPA HAD BEEN DELIERATELY DRAFTED TO AVOID POSING THE QUESTION OF FORCIBLE OR INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE MENTIONED AND INVITED THE VIETNAMESE TO RECONSIDER. THIS WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THAILAND WHO COMMENDED THE EXISTING TEXT WHICH MET VIETNAM'S OBJECTIVES AND COVERED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT A SUDDEN FLOOD OF REFORMS. HE ALSO CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE, AS REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 6 (C).
6. THE CHAIRMAN THEN ADJOURNED THE MEETING AND INVITED DELEGATES TO REFLECT OVERNIGHT ON THE POSITION REACHED.
COMMENT
7. THE MEETING WAS PROCEEDING CONSTRUCTIVELY UNTIL VIETNAMESE OBJECTIONS, THROUGH THE CHAIRMAN'S TACTICAL HANDLING OF THE MEETING, WERE FORCED INTO THE OPEN. THE VIETNAMESE INTERVENTION WAS NOT UNEXPECTED BUT HAS WE HOPE ONLY TEMPORARILY BROUGHT PROGRESS TO A HALT. AT LEAST IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR WHERE THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM LIES AND THE PRESSURE IS ON VIETNAM.
8. ICG MEMBERS HAVE REMAINED SOLID, THE AMERICANS WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE CPA UNAMENDED. THERE WAS AN AWKWARD MOMENT IN EC CONSULTATION WHERE FRANCE EVIDENTLY FELT THAT MATTERS WERE BEING PRE-COOKED IN THEIR ABSENCE. WE HOPE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REASSURED AND WE SHOULD RENEW THE INVITATION TO FRANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT ICG IN LONDON WHICH MARTIN EVIDENTLY SUPPRESSED FOR HIS OWN REASONS).
SPRECKLEY
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
96
DISTRIBUTION
102
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
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