CONFIDENTI AL
OF REFUGEES CONTINUE TO ARRIVE. SAMPATKUMAR HAS AGREED THAT
THIS LOW-PROFILE UNHCR PRESENCE WILL BE SOLELY CONCERNED WITH
REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM.
4. THE UNHCR OFFICE HERE WAS CLOSED IN NOVEMBER 1973, PARTLY AS
A RESULT OF CHINESE CRITICISM OF THE UNHCR FOR HANDLING CHINESE REFUGEES (MOSTLY ELSEWHERE; E.G MACAU AND INDIA). HOWEVER, WE
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT, WHICH IS AD HOC AND TO DEAL WITH THE VIETNAMESE, WILL ATTRACT ADVERSE CHINESE COMMENT.
5. SAMPATKUMAR HOPES THAT THESE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS WILL ENABLE GREATER UNHCR PRESSURE TO. BE BROUGHT ON COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES (THROUGH THEIR MISSIONS HERE) TO ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF UKMIS GENEVA, COULD SUPPORT ANY ATTEMPTS MADE BY UNHCR TO INTERNATIONALISE AND SPEED UP THE ACCEPTANCE OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, EMPHASISING THE PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES WHICH WE FACE HERE IN LANDING, EVEN TEMPORARILY, REFUGEES WITH NO CLAIMS ON HONG KONG WHILE RETURNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CHINA. THROUGH OUR CHARTER FLIGHTS TO HO CHI MINH CITY, WE HAVE OF COURSE ACCEPTED OVER 4,500 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE LINKS TO HONG KONG. THERE CAN BE NO
QUESTION OF ACCEPTING PERMANENTLY REFUGEES WITH NO SUCH CLAIM.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THEREFORE THAT THE INCREASING NUMBERS NOW
ARRIVING SHOULD BE MOVED ON FOR PERMANENT SETTLEMENT AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
6. IT WOULD NO DOUBT HE HELPFUL TO UKMIS GENEVA IN MAKING THE
CASE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE REFUGEES WHO ARE LANDED TEMPORARILY HERE IF THE U.K IS NOW ABLE TO ACCEPT SCME FIFTY REFUGEES AS DISCUSSED EARLIER IN CORRESPONDENCE. GRATEFUL TO KNOW IF A DECISION IS LIKELY TO BE REACHED SHORTLY ON THIS PROPOSAL.
VIENTIANE PLEASE COPY BY BAG TO HANOI.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD HK & GD
N AM D
MR MURRAY
PS
MR WEIR
UND
PS/MR LUARD
MVD
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
NEWS D
MR CORTAZZI
2
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE