GRPS 220
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A.
1
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22 SER1976
141)
Lkk 2 V3/5/18/
HK)
FM UKMIS GENEVA 211830Z
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TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 277 OF 21 SEPTEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO, WASHINGTON, ROUTINE SINGAPORE, OTTAWA, KUALA LUMPUR, PARIS, JAKARTA.
TOKYO TELNO 844: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MS MATHER
1. THE UNHCR OFFICE HAS JUST LEARNT FROM ITS REPRESENTATIVE IN JAPAN THAT THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES WILL ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO LAND .ONLY IF THE AUTHORITIES RECEIVE A NOTE VERBALE FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY GUARANTEEING THEIR RESETTLEMENT OUTSIDE JAPAN WITHIN 30 DAYS. ACCORDING TO THE UNHCR, THE JAPANESE MADE A SIMILAR DEMAND RECENTLY FROM THE NETHERLANDS. IN RESPECT OF SOME REFUGEES ON A DUTCH SHIP. IN THAT INSTANCE, THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT PROVIDED THE REQUESTED GUARANTEE AND THE JAPANESE AUTHORITIES WERE WILLING TO EXTEND THE ASYLUM FOR FURTHER PERIODS OF 30 DAYS WHILST THE UNHCR SOUGHT RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REFUGEES ELSEWHERE.
2. THE UNHCR EXPECT THAT THE JAPANESE WOULD ACT SIMILARLY IN RESPECT OF THE MS MATHER REFUGEES IF HMG WERE TO GIVE THE REQUIRED WRITTEN GUARANTEE. IF THE REFUGEES WERE GRANTED TEMPORARY ASYLUM IN JAPAN, THE UNHCR WOULD ONCE AGAIN PAY FOR THEIR CARE AND MAINTENANCE AS HORE AND WOULD ACT VIGOROUSLY TO FIND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM ELSEWHERE. THEY CANNOT, HOWEVER, DO MUCH MORE THAN THEY HAVE ALREADY TO FIND HOMES FOR THESE PEOPLE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN LANDED AND HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INTERVIEWED. INTERVIEWING AT SEA WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL .
BOTTOMLEY
FILES
SEAD
FED
UND
MVD
MTD
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
MR.CORTAZZI
MR. MALE
HKD
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