ESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
UK/IS CENEVA #916892 JUNE 19
1. IMMEDIATE FCO
TOMO 186 OF 8/6/7)
AND IMMEDIATS HONG KONG
HKK 243/
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY HE
IND
15 JUN 1979
DESK OFF
No
A
1030
ex
INFO ROUTINE VASHINGTON HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
1012
FONG KONG TELNO 743 TO FCO: VIETNAMESE REFUCLES: PROBLEMS WITH UNHOR
ME PAVE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION WITH DAYAL, HARTLING'S EXECUTIVE
ASSISTANT ABOUT THE PISTRUCTIONS SENT TO THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE
IN HONG KONG.
2.
DAYAL (WHOM WE KNOW TO HAVE DRAFTED THE INSTRUCTIONS) SAID THAT
IT WAS NOT INTENDED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD APPLY ONLY TO THE
6,302 REFUGEES FROM NORTH VIETRAY. THIS WOULD AGAIN BE MADE CLEAR 10
RASAWAYAGAM WHO WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO REGISTER ALL THE SONER
REFUGEES AS FAST AS HE CAN INTERVIEW THEM. BIS STAFF IS TO DE
INCREASED. SUME CONFUSION HAD BEEN CAUSED AMONG UNHCR'S LEGAL EXPERTS BY HONG KONG'S ORIGINAL DECISION TO CLASSIFY THOSE SUSPECTED
OF COMING VIA CHINA AS DETAINEES RATHER THAN REFUGEES AND IT WAS
NOT EASY TO REMOVE THE LEGACY OF THIS WAY OF THINKING. HOWEVER,
THERE SHOULD NOW BE LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN REGISTERING THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THEM AS " BOAT REFUGEES''.
3. AS INDICATED IN TARA 3 OF MY TELHO 172 OF SE MAY, HARTLING INTENDED TO PUT TO US SOME CONCRETE PROPOSALS IN SPITING. DAYAL GAID
FE WOULD ENSURE A DRAFT WAS AVAILABLE IN ME FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
VISIT ON 22 OR 25 JUNE.
HE FREELY ACCEPTED THAT THE $7 SEPTEMBER 1978 UNDERTAKING TO
COVER CARE AND MAINTENANCE COULD NOT SE KEPT. THE NUMBER OF REFUCEES 11S FAR LOVER THEN AND NO-ONE COULD HAVE FORESEEN THE INCREASED
SALE OF THE PROBLEM. THE POINT WAS THAT UNIOR JUST DID NOT HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO MEET GROVINE DILLS. EVEN IF OLY DOLLARS 1 PER
DAY PER REFUGEE WAS SCT ASIDE FOR FOOD ALONE THIS COLD COME TO COLLARS 18 MILLION A YEAR (PERHAPS DOLLARS D3 MILLION IT FULL CARE
RESTRICTED
/ AND