99
GRS 650 CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 061130Z
HIR 243/2
RECEIVED IN KEGISTRY NO. 51
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 0610152 NOVEMBER 81
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1008 OF 06 NOVEMBER INFC PRIORITY HANOI UKMIS GENEVA
YOUR TELNO 849: VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
DESK OFFICER
EX
NO
PEGISTRY
PA
CGE
10/11
flos 10/4
тор с
COPY
See Too
98
1. WE ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A PRESENTATIONAL PROBLEM WHICH
WHICH WILL NEED CAREFUL HANDLING. BUT SO FAR
196
no need for infifcity if and returfond, Been in the Ine year..
AS PUBLICITY HERE IS CONCERNED, CRITICISM FROM HONG KONG'S CHINESE POPULATION (PREVENTED BY IMMIGRATION RULES FROM BRINING CLOSE RELATIVES IN FROM CHINA) WOULD PROBABLY
BE FAR MORE STRIDENT IF THE CHILDREN WERE ALLOWED TO REMAIN,
THAN THAT FROM EXPATRIATE OPINION IF THEY WERE REMOVED. A
DECISION THAT THE CHILDREN SHOULD REMAIN IN HONG KONG (WHICH SEEMS THE ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION FROM A READING OF YOUR T U R) WOULD THUS CREATE A VERY UNDESIRABLE PRECEDENT
FOR HONG KONG'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES - AS WELL AS COMPROMISING
UNHCR'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. THE LATTER WOULD SURELY QUESTION UNHCR'S GOOD FAITH IF THE CHILDREN WERE NOW TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG OR BE DIVERTED
Publi Witte's food four
ELSEWHERE AFTER THE VIETNAMESE HAD AGREED TO TAKE THEM BACK. Respon & Yets vi
2. UNHCR NEGOTIATED WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON THE BASIS THAT
THE CHILDREN WOULD BE RETURNED TO THEIR PARENTS. UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES HERE SEE NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT THIS IS
WHAT THE VIETNAMESE HAVE AGREED TO. THEY THINK IT UNREALISTIC
TO PRESS FOR A SPECIFIC GUARANTEE AS IMPLIED IN YOUR PARA 2.
UNHCR HAVE NOW CHECKED ALL THE LETTERS RECEIVED FROM THE CHILDREN'S RELATIVES, AND HAVE TOLD US CATEGORICALLY THAT
NONE OF THEM BEARS OUT THE ASSERTION REPORTED IN YOUR
TELNO 847 THAT THE PARENTS DO NOT WISH TO HAVE THE
CHILDREN BACK.
3. THE HOME OFFICE POSITION REFLECTED IN YOUR PARA 5
SEEMS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THAT WHICH THE AMERICANS HAVE
CONSISTENTLY TAKEN: THAT THEY COULD NOT CONSIDER ACCEPTING
THESE THREE UNTIL VIETNAM HAD POSITIVELY TURNED THEM
DOWN. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY UNHCR HAVE BEEN PRESSING
VIETNAME FOR AN ANSWER FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.
jo
yo mit der's hum
waiting form 743
in
letten & dum camphole
CONFIDENTIAL
14.