CONFIDENTIAL
3+
W A Pinegar Esq
UK Representative of the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
14/15 Stratford Place London W1N 9A7
RECRVED IN
REG. TRY NO.51
- 2 AUG 1773
HKK2||
UNIOR OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG
1.
24 July 1973
LAST
KEF,
33
t
When you telephoned last week I promised to let you have our considered comments on the proposal that someone from your Geneva office should visit London to discuss with us the possible closure of the UNICR office in Hong Kong.
2. This is of course essentially a matter for UNHCR and for the other bodies concerned, ICH and the WCC. Our understanding of the position is that the UNICR office in Ilong Kong deals only with White Russians, and although we are not aware of any particular pressure from the People's Republic of China to close down the UNHCR office in Hong Kong, we think that such a course would have the merit of removing any erroneous Chinese ideas about the activities of that office. The first step would appear to be for the UNHCR to reach agreement with ICHM and WCO_on_the_new arrɛnge- ment. Thereafter the Government of the People's Republic of China should be informed as a matter of courtesy (there seems to us to be no question of securing their approval, as given their erroneous understanding of what the liong Kong office does, they are unlikely to agree to the continuation of the office in any guise). There would not then seem to be any need for a meeting between us, for the way would be clear to put the now arrangement into effect. We would however welcome being kept informed of developments through our Mission in Geneva.
Copied to:
Mr A A Acland
Mr R M Evans (VID)
Mr AC Stuart (likÏOD) Miss A M Warburton CVO
UKMis Geneva
TJB Georgo Esq
Colonial Secretariat Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
TW Keeble
United Nations Department
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