TNAG-2072-FCO40-2951-Vietnamese-boat-people-arriving-in-Hong-Kong-from-Macau-coop-1990 — Page 22

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CANNOT THEREFORE ARGUE THAT MACAO IS NOT A PLACE OF FIRST ASYLUM, NOR THAT RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE NOT REMOVING THEIR CASELOAD.

5.

REALISTICALLY, THERE SEEMS VERY LITTLE PROSPECT OF PERSUADING THE PORTUGUESE THAT THE MACAO AUTHORITIES SHOULD PREVENT VBP FROM SAILING ON FOR HONG KONG. WE HAVE BEEN PRESSING THEM TO DO THIS SINCE 1982. BUT IT IS TOO CONVENIENT A SOLUTION FOR THEM TO REPLENISH BOATS AND MOVE THEM ON, AND TOO EASY TO DENY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN ANY SYSTEMATIC OR OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED WAY. HOWEVER, AS A CPA PARTICIPANT, THIS PRACTICE IS TECHNICALLY A VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT (I.E. A PUSH OFF). IT WOULD BE VALUABLE TO US TO SECURE THE PORTUGUESE AS ALLIES IN THE EC FORUM, WHERE WE ARE NOW IN DANGER OF BEING ISOLATED ON THE QUESTION OF AID TO VIETNAM, AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OTHER COUNTRY SECONDING OUR ARGUMENT THAT A NECESSARY PRECONDITION FOR SUPPORT FOR VIETNAM REMAINS THAT THEY SHOULD FULFIL THEIR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AS REGARDS THEIR OWN PEOPLE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

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.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

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