TNAG-1972-FCO40-2805-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 87

claims to refugee status. Malaysia has indicated its intention

to close down its remaining refugee camp at Pulau Bidong and to

consider all new arrivals as illegal entrants. While no firm

date has been given for this move, the Malaysian authorities have

used this announcement to signal their serious concern over the

matter and to seek a cooperative response on the part of the

international community.

Since 1981 questions have repeatedly been raised about the

motivations of those seeking asylum. A report by a U.S.

Department of State Advisory Panel at that time discussed the

mixed motives of the refugees interviewed in Southeast Asian

camps, noting:

"Interviews among camp inhabitants indicate a mixture of

motives on the part of many who fled their homelands in

Indochina. A large number clearly face persecution or have

a fear, on a well-grounded basis, of persecution if they

return home. Others, however, manifest a desire for an

improved station in life, and fled primarily because of the

economic or social conditions prevailing in their country of

origin."

In observing the present situation, it is apparent that

there continue to be disagreements about motivations of

Indochinese in seeking 'asylum, with a growing assumption both

within the region and among resettlement countries that an

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