00 WASHINGTON
GRS 204
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 241120Z FEB 82
TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
(26)
CONIDENTIAL
24983
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1
Hkk 243/1
RYNO. 51
TELEGRAM NUMBER 338 OF 24 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
PA
No
5/3
UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 71 TO FCO: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1. WE EXPLORED FURTHER WITH UNHCR (CASSELA) ON 22 FEBRUARY THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF US POLICY ON 4 E CASES. WE NOW BELIEVE THAT A
POLICY DECISION MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF
4 E CASES ELSEWHERE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND NOT (NOT) IN HONG KONG
BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF REFUGEES ARRIVING THERE ARE NORTH
VIETNAMESE. THERE IS THEREFORE NO SENSE OF US OBLIGATION TOWARDS
THESE AS THERE IS TOWARDS SOUTH VIETNAMESE.
2. PLEASE SEEK URGENT CLARIFICATION OF THE POSITION FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT. YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN UNDER
THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CHANGES IN RESPECT OF 4 E CASES INTRODUCED
AT THE END OF 1981 WERE TO BE APPLIED IN ALL SOUTH EAST ASIAN
FIRST ASYLUM TERRITORIES AND THAT WE AND HONG KONG WOULD OBVIOUSLY
BE VERY CONCERNED IF SUCH DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG HAD
BEEN INSTITUTED.
3. WE WISH TO RETAIN THE OPTION OF FURTHER ACTION WITH THE
AMERICANS BEFOR: THE MEETING IN MANILA NEXT WEEK AND SHOULD THERE-
FORE BE GRATEFUL FOR EARLY REPORT ON US RESPONSE.
AFIL13
See 27
28
CARRINGTON
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION:
LIMITED
HKG D
SEAD
UND
PS/LPS
MR DONALD
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE,
LONDON.
: