1499
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"HKK 243|10A
GPS 303
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FM UKMIS GENEVA 311112Z AUG 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 388 OF 31 AUG 1979
INFO HONG KONG, STOCKHOLM, THE HAGUE.
(4.97
STOCKHOLM TELNO 107 AND THE HAGUE TELNO 204: RESETTLEMENT OF
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG
aee/1500)
1. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE MADE THE POINT AT SEVERAL LEVELS IN THE
UNPCR HIERARCHY THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS APPEAR TO BE RECEIVING
ADVICE FROM UNHCR TO TAKE ALL THEIR CURRENT QUOTAS FROM PLACES OTHER
THAN HONG KONG. AT A SENIOR LEVEL SUPRISE IS EXPRESSED THAT
THIS IS THE CASE AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF QUOTE FAIR SHARES UNQUOTE IS ACCEPTED. WHEN WE TALK TO THE OFFICERS MOST DIRECTLY
CONCERNED IN THE RESETTLEMENT SECTION (WITH WHOM WE HAVE
EXCELLENT RELATIONS) THEY POINT TO THEIR VARIOUS EFFORTS TO
ENCOURAGE CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG 440) (SEE FOR EXAMPLE PARA 7 OF MY TELNO 363). BUT THEY ALSO MAKE THE
POINT THAT ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE SOVEREIGN AND DO NOT HAVE TO
ACCEPT UNHCR ADVICE. IT SEEMS TO US THAT CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS
SHELTER BEHIND THE EXCUSE OF UNHCR ADVICE TO AVOID EXPLAINING
EQUALLY IMPORTANT REASONS FOR THEIR DECISIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
DUTCH MISSION HERE TOLD US THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE
OF TAKING ALL REFUGEES FROM ONE PLACE WAS A DECISIVE FACTOR.
2. UNHCR HAVE ALSO MADE THE POINT (AGAIN PLEASE SEE PARA 7 OF
MY TELNO 363) THAT IN PROFERRING ADVICE THEY ARE INFLUENCED BY
THE LENGTH OF TIME REFUGEES HAVE DEEN IN CAMPS. AS OFFICIALS OF A
PUMANITARIAN RATHER THAN A POLITICAL ORGANISATION THEY ARE ALSO
NO DOUBT INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT EACH REFUGEE TAKEN FROM
A COUNTRY PRACTISING REFOULEMENT MAY MEAN A LIFE SAVED.
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/ 3. HOWEVER, THE