GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 060734Z JUL 82
TO ROUTINE F C O
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 723 OF 6 JULY
INFO UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, BANGKOK.
120
YOUR TELNO 455 : REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM
INDEX
HAK 243/1.
11" 1082
(40)
1567 Afich
No
19/7
1. WE DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS WITH PARLIAMENT
OVER THE ADOPTION OF A POLICY OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. BUT THERE CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG LOCAL INTEREST IN SUCH AN OPTION STEMMING FROM THE POLICY ADOPTED TOWARDS CHINESE ILLEGALS AND THE DECREASING UNWILLINGNESS OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HERE. WHETHER OR NOT IT IS PRACTICABLE ACTIVELY TO PURSUE THE OPTION FURTHER WE WOULD NOT WISH TO SEE IT PUBLICLY RULED OUT. THE THOUGHT THAT SUCH A REPATRIATION POLICY MIGHT BE ADOPTED COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL DETERRENT TO THOSE THINKING OF SETTING OUT FOR HONG KONG.
2. REGARDING THE MINORS, IT IS THE UNHCR WHICH IS CONTEMPLATING REPATRIATION, WE HAVE NO DETAILS BUT UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDU AL CASES ARE BEING REFERRED TO GENEVA FOR ONWARD REFERENCE TO UNHCR
IN HANOI.
See 143
144
3. WE ARE TOLD THAT IT IS UNHCR POLICY TO RE-UNITE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS AND IN THE TOTAL ABSENCE OF RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE NOW WORKING TOWARDS. WE ARE ALSO TOLD THAT IN UNHCR EYES CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS ARE CONSIDERED NOT TO BE SUFFICIENTLY MATURE TO MAKE A DECISION SO THAT THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE VOLUNTEERS DOES NOT APPLY.
4. WE SUGGEST THAT, AT LEAST AT THE PRESENT STAGE, WE SHOULD LEAVE
THINGS WITH THE UNHCR WHO ARE A RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION. UNLESS WE WERE SEEN TO BE OFFERING PLACES FOR THE MINORS IN THE UK IT WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE GREAT DIFFICULTY HERE IF WE WERE TO INTERFERE WITH THE UNHCR ON THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH THEY THINK BEST SUITED TO
CHILDREN CONCERNED.
145
14
YOUDE
COPIES TO:-
LIMITED
MR GIFFARD
HK&GD
MR DONALD
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE
SEAD
UNE
NEWS D
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
FS/MR RIFKIND
PS/PUS
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
CONFIDENTIAL