99
CONFIDENTIAL CRS STO
FM F C O 0618062 NOV 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
HICK 243/2 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
(100
TELEGRAM NUMBER 856 OF 6 NBOVEMBER.
INFO PRIORITY HANOI AND UKMIS GENEVA.
DESK OFFICER INDEX
YOUR TELNO 1003 : VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.
PA CRE
REMISTRY
Aption Taken
10/11 76010/4
1. WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THAT CHILDREN SHOULD STAY INDEFINITELY
IN HONG KONG, BUT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO FORCE THEM ON TO PLANE
NOW GIVEN THE LACK OF ANY CLEAR INDICATION OF THEIR PARENT'S VIEWS,
OR INDEED OF THEIR OWN.
2. WE ACCEPT THAT THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS FOR YOU IF CHILDREN
See llor
WERE ALLOWED TO REMAIN AND NEWS OF THIS LEAKED. HOWEVER, THERE WOULD +KK 243/1
ALSO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR MINISTERS HERE IF THEY WERE FORCIBLY
REPATRIATED WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY BECOME FRONT PAGE NEWS. IT IS
HARD TO SEE HOW THIS COULD BE JUSTIFIED IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. WE KNOW THAT LORD ABERDARE HAS BEEN BRIEFED TO RAISE THE MATTER IN
THE LORDS IF NECESSARY.
3.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN FOR UNHCR'S FUTURE DEALINGS WITH
VIETNAMESE. BUT VIETNAMESE TWO YEAR DELAY IN RESPONDING TO UNHCR'S
REQUEST HAS IN ITSELF MADE REPATRIATION MORE DIFFICULT. MOREOVER
IT MAKES IT ENTIRELY REASONABLE FOR UNHCR TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE
TIME TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT DECISION IS TAKEN. THE INTERESTS OF
THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES ARE PARAMOUNT: UNHCR POLICY IS BASED ON
HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS AND WE MUST BE SEEN TO HAVE FOLLOWED
THESE OURSELVES IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
4. WE STILL CONSIDER THAT AN ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE TO ASCERTAIN
VIEWS OF PARENTS. THOMPSON OF YMCA CLAIMS THAT PARENTS HAVE WRITTEN TO MISS CAMPBELL SAYING THAT THEY DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT CHILDREN TO RETURN. THIS LETTER MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO UNHCR, BUT IT STRENGTHENS THE ARGUMENT FOR THE LATTER DOUBLE-CHECKING.
5. IF SUCH A CHECK PROVIDED DEMONSTRABLE EVIDENCE OF THE PARENT'S
WISH TO HAVE THE CHILDREN BACK THE AIM SHOULD THEN BE TO CONVINCE
THE LATTER AND REPATRIATE THEM. IF HOWEVER IT WERE DECIDED THAT
THERE WAS NO CASE FOR REPATRIATION IN SPITE OF THE VIETNAMESE
AUTHORITIES AGREEMENT TO COOPERATE, WE WOULD ASK MINISTERS TO
CONSIDER EXCEPTIONALLY PERMITTING THE CHILDREN TO COME HERE.
THIS IS A SENSITIVE AND DIFFICULT CASE. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT
TO RUSH AND WE SHOULD NOT BE BOUND BY ANY DEADLINE.
CARRINGTON
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SEAD Lead
PS/LPS Ps/pas
M'S DONALD
Cofres To
NKGO LONDON
P3/5 OF 5 SCOTLAND
CONFIDENTIAL
1982
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