RESTRICTEDF
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGRET NO. $1
GR 149
RESTRICTED
FM MANILA 083226Z NOV 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
DESK OFFICES
INDEX
FA
18.38
1820
·
TELEGRAM NUMBER 437 OF 8 NOVEMBER
INFO UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON AND HONG KONG.
PHILIPPINES REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTRE.
nee (find
1. HOLBROOKE'S ASSURANCES TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG (HONG KONG TELNO 1543 OF 1 NOVEMBER) AND DE HAAN'S MENTION OF HONG KONG (SNOXELL'S LETTER OF 15 OCTOBER TO STITT) ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THE USA AND THE UNHCR ARE TAKING IT FOR GRANTED THAT REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ACCESS TO THE RPC.
2. WHEN ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER COLLANTES MET WITH EEC HEADS
OF MISSION ON 5 OCTOBER HE SAID " THE PHILIPPINES WILL ACCEPT
ANY REFUGEES SENT TO THE RPC BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES''. I THOUGHT IT BETTER NOT TO SPECIFICALLY QUESTION HIM ON HONG KONG IN CASE I SHOULD PROVOKE HIM INTO TAKING A DIFFERENT LINE. BUT THE EVIDENCE FROM HONG KONG AND GENEVA SUGGESTS THAT COLLANTES WAS SPEAKING ADVISEDLY.
3. I AGREE WITH GOVERNOR HONG KONG THAT THERE SEEMS NOW TO BE
NO NEED TO SEEK ANYTHING MORE EXPLICIT FROM THE FILIPINOS.
BENTLEY
FILES
SEAD
HRGD
LOND
FED
MR
CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
LORD NG LENNOX
RESTRICTED