680
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM SINGAPORE 270630Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
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TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 338 OF 27 OCT 78. INFO ROUTINE KUALA LUMPUR, UKMIS GENEVA. SAVING TO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR), HANO!.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEE POLICY IN SINGAPORE
HKK 243/1
243/1
253
RECEIVED IN REG.STRY NO. 51 30 OCT 1978
DESK OF
INDEX
Nold
D
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CLE.
1. ON 5 OCTOBER (RECORD BY BAG TO FCO AND UKMIS GENEVA) THE UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR S E ASIA, SAMPATKUMAR INFORMED HEADS OF MISSION OF COUNTRIES OF ULTIMATE DESTINATION IN, SINGAPORE OF THE INTENTION OF THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT, CONVEYED TO HIM THAT MORNING BY THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, TO TIGHTEN UP CONDITIONS FOR THE LANDING OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN SINGAPORE. HE CLAIMED TO HAVE EXPRESSED DISMAY AT THIS NEWS. HEADS OF MISSION AGREED THAT THE REPORTED INTENTION OF THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT WAS UNFORTUNATE SINCE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS WORKED REASONABLY WELL. SAMPATKUMAR WAS ASKED TO CONVEY THEIR VIEW FIRMLY TO THE SINGAPOREANS WITH THE RIDER THAT THEY HOPED THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT CHANGE ITS POLICY WITHOUT WARNING OR CONSULTATION.
2.
SAMPATKUMAR SUBSEQUENTLY WROTE TO THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (COPY BY BAG) IN FAR FROM ROBUST TERMS REFERRING ALSO TO A PERSONAL COUNTER-PROPOSAL OF HIS OWN WHICH HAD BEEN REJECTED
BY HEADS OF MISSION.
3. THE MFA HAVE THIS WEEK SENT A NOTE (COPY BY BAG) TO ALL MISSIONS CONCERNED WHICH CONFIRMS THE NEW POLICY AS CONVEYED
TO SAMPATKUMAR ON 5 OCTOBER. IT STATES THAT:
A) AS BEFORE, REFUGEES WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO LAND IN SINGAPORE AFTER A THIRD COUNTRY HAS GUARANTEED TO RESETTLE THEM WITHIN
90 DAYS IF THE UNHCR FAILS TO DO SO.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ B) SINGAPORE WILL