97
35549 1
98
GRS 267
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
O NOV 1981
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK OFFICIA
FM FCO 051730 NOV 1 INDEX
PA
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG NO
<GE
10/11
TELEGRAM NUMBER 849
BEGISTRY Action Taken
Paololy!
Copied to MVD
Mrs. Boddy pas 6/11
See (99)
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
YOUR TELNO 1000: VIETNAMESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
1. WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT LIKELY REACTION HERE AS SEEMS LITTLE DOUBT THAT SCOTTISH YMCA, WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND, WOULD SEEK MAXIMUM PUBLICITY FOR CASE. THIS HAS MAKINGS OF A VERY BAD PRESS HERE AS WELL AS IN HONG KONG AND WE NEED TO MOVE CAREFULLY.
2. WE AGREE THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE REUNITED WITH PARENTS IF THAT IS WHAT THEY ALL WANT. HOWEVER, IF THE CHILDREN ARE RETURNED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN SAY THAT UNHCR WERE SATIS- FIED THAT THE PARENTS WANT THEM BACK. WE CANNOT DO SO ON PRESENT EVIDENCE, AND YMCA WILL SAY PARENTS DO NOT WANT THEM BACK. WE BELIEVE THEREFORE THAT UNHCR SHOULD ASCERTAIN PARENTS VIEWS DIRECTLY BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN ANY FURTHER.
3. IN ANY CASE WE COULD NOT AGREE TO HONG KONG AUTHORITIES FORCING CHILDREN ON AEROPLANE. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY ATTRACT CRITICISM HERE AND IN HONG KONG. THEY MUST BE SEEN TO BE GOING VOLUNTARILY.
4. THIS MEANS THAT YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MEET 11 NOVEM- BER DEADLINE. BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS FOR UNHCR TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE CONVINCINGLY THAT THEY ARE ACTING IN CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS.
5. HOME OFFICE SAY THAT CHILDREN DO NOT QUALIFY FOR RESETTLEMENT UNDER NORMAL CRITERIA AS THEY HAVE NO VISIBLE CONNECTION WITH THE UK, AND THEY WOULD WISH TO BE SURE THAT THEY COULD NOT GO BACK TO VIETNAM BEFORE ACCEPTING THEM UNDER QUOTA, IF YOU SO PROPOSED. 6. BASIC FACTS OF CASE WILL BE PASSED TO THOMPSON OF SCOTTISH YMCA ON A.M. OF 6 NOVEMBER.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
HKGD
SEAD
UND
PS/LPS
COPIES TO:
HKGO LONDON
PS/S OF S FOR SCOTLAND
PS/PUS
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTIAL