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FM HONG KONG Ø70445Z NOVEMBER 81
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1009 OF 07 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA INFO PRIORITY HANO I INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
YOUR TEL 856: VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
100
1. WE AGREE THAT THIS IS A SENSITIVE AND DIFFICULT CASE.
See (102)
WE NATURALLY WISH TO AVOID FORFEITING OUR REPUTATION OVERSEAS. AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST GIVE WEIGHT TO LIKELY REACTIONS FROM UNOFFICIALS AND CHINESE POPULATION.
2. WE MUST AVOID TAKING ACTION WHICH DEPARTS FROM THE LONG ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE THAT UNHCR GIVES AN UNDERTAKING TO US IN RESPECT OF ALL VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS HERE THAT IT WILL USE ITS BEST ENDEAVOURS TO RESETTLE THEM. UNHCR ARE THEREFORE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE. THEY HAVE CONCLUDED FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT THAT THE CHILDREN SHOULD BE REPATRIATED. WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WRONG IN PRINCIPLE TO QUESTION UNHCR'S DECISION IN REGARD TO THIS CASE. UNHCR HAVE GONE INTO IT VERY THOROUGHLY AND I WOULD STRONGLY ADDVISE AGAINST INTERFERING WITH THEIR
DECISION.
3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE HERE HAS BEEN IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH GENEVA THROUGHOUT THIS CASE WHERE THE DECISION TO REPATRIATE WAS MADE. IF DESPITE PARA 2 ABOVE YOU STILL FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE PARENTS BEFORE THE CHILDREN ARE REPATRIATED WE SUGGEST
OU INSTRUCT UK MISSION IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS THE CASE WITH UNHCR HEADQUARTERS. UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES HERE SHARE OUR VIEW THAT REPATRIATION SHOULD TAKE PLACE AS PLANNED AND BEFORE PRESSURES BUILD UP FURTHER.
MACLEHOSE
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HK & GD
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COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR SCOTLAND
LONDON
PS/LPS PS/PUS
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
701