GRS 370
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA 101437Z
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 389 OF 10 NOVEMBER 1981
本
HKR 243/2
RECEND A REALLY NO. 51
1 1011001
DESK OFFICER
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PRIORITY HANOI
102
INDEX
No
YOUR TELNO 188 VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
FA
CSE
17/0
1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO UNHCR HERE (CASELLA, EAST ASIA SECTION) WHO CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG NOT (NOT) TO REPATRIATE THE CHILDREN TO VIETNAM SINCE IT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BY UNHCR THAT THE CHILDREN DO NOT (NOT) WISH TO RETURN TO THEIR PARENTS. (LAST SENTENCE OF PARA 4 OF YOUR TUR). To
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2. CASELLA REPORTED THAT TN THE LAST FEW DAYS THE CHILDREN HAD RECEIVED INDIRECTLY A LETTER, SUPPOSEDLY FROM THEIR PARENTS, INDICATING THAT THE PARENTS HAD BEEN PRESSURED BY THE VIETNAMESE
AUTHORITIES TO AGREE TO THE CHILDREN'S REPATRIATION. HOWEVER THE PARENTS ADVISED THE CHILDREN NOT TO RETURN TO VIETNAM.
CASELLA ADDED THAT IT WOULD OF COURSE BE DIFFICULT TO PROVE
THE LETTER'S AUTHENTICITY.
3. WE PUT THE FIRST TWO SUGGESTIONS MADE IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR
TUR. CASELLA SAID THAT UNHCR CANNOT CONTACT PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS IN VIETNAM, HE ADDED THAT EVEN IF THEY COULD, IT WAS LIKELY THAT PRESSURE WOULD BE PUT ON THE PARENTS TO SAY THEY WANTED THE CHILDREN BACK REGARDLESS OF THEIR REAL WISHES. UNHCR HAVE
SEEN THE LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE CHILDREN IN HONG KONG FROM THEIR PARENTS. THESE LETTERS DO NOT SHOW ANY REAL INDICATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE PARENTS WANT THE CHILDREN BACK. 4. UNHCR FULLY UNDERSTAND HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS WITH LOCAL CHINESE COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INTEREST IN THIS CASE. GIVEN THE CHILDREN'S RESISTANCE TO REPATRIATION THEY SEE RESETTLEMENT IN A THIRD COUNTRY AS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE. THEY DO NOT (NOT) THINK THAT THE US CAN BE PERSUADED TO TAKE THE CHILDREN IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY THEREFORE HOPE THAT EXCEPTIONALLY WE COULD CONSIDER THE CHILDREN FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK. IT WAS HINTED THAT, SINCE THEY HAD BEEN SO VOCAL IN PREVENTING THE CHILDREN FROM BEING REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM, THE SCOTTISH YMCA MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HELPING.
MARSHALL
LIMITED
HK vGD SEAD
UND
PS|LPS PS/PUS
ML DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO '.
HONG KONG GOVT Office
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