CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 188 OF 9 NOVEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY HANOI
ник
Nick 243/2
RECLIVED IN REGISTRY MO. $1
00143585
DESK OFFICER
RECISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Naken
No
CGE
18/11/
Pas uelu
V
See (103)
101
HONG KONG TELNO 1009: VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
1.
WE UNDERSTAND BY TELEPHONE FROM HONG KONG THAT UNHCR
GENEVA HAVE INSTRUCTED THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG THAT THE
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT (NOT) BE REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM. WE SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD OBTAIN DETAILS OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
MEANWHILE THEY APPEAR TO GIVE A HELPFUL BREATHING SPACE IN WHICH
TO CONSIDER THE CASE.
2.
WE HAVE ALL ALONG ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE UNHCR'S
RECOMMENDATION SHOULD SO FAR AS POSSIBLE BE THE MAIN GUIDE.
IN
THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE HAVE NOT OPPOSED REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM
PER SE. OUR CONCERN HAS BEEN THAT THIS SHOULD BE PUBLICLY JUSTIFIED AND IN PARTICULAR THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO
USE FORCE TO GET THE CHILDREN ON THE 'PLANE.
3.
WE FULLY UNDERSTAND HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS AND THE RISK OF
PRESSURE FROM UN OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WHILE THE CHILDREN REMAIN IN
HONG KONG. AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST MAKE CLEAR THAT IT WOULD ONLY
BE POSSIBLE FOR MINISTERS TO CONSIDER AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE FOR THE
CHILDREN TO COME TO THE UK OF IT COULD BE SHOWN THAT IT WAS NOT IN
THEIR INTERESTS FOR THEM TO GO BACK TO VIETNAM, AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE REMAINDER OF THE NORMAL QUOTA.
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING
IN UNHCR ON THIS POINT. MOREOVER THE POSSIBILITY OF THE
CHILDREN GOING TO THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT BE RULED OUT.
4.
WE REALISE THE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING ANY MORE PRECISE
INDICATION OF THE PARENTS' WISHES ALTHOUGH WE HOPE THAT SOMETHING
MIGHT BE DONE THROUGH THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HANOI. WE
104
1
CONFIDENTIAL
SUGGEST
By week
10/1 noted pho
102