(101) in CR 48/4821/79 II
9th November 1982
- 2 -
if we release such "guaranteed" refugees out into open camps, they
are detained in a closed centre pending resettlement. The
guaranteeing or "DISERO" state is required to remove the refugees
within three months, if at all possible. The refugees on the
"Poyang" have now been in detention for 15 months.
272
4.
As I had anticipated when I sent my telegram 1233 of
www
28 October copy attached to Richard Hoare, the UNHCR and other
representatives were very critical of the "Poyang" case when we met
on 29 October, and any pressure we could have exerted on other
resettlement countries to accelerate their "offtake" was deftly
countered by reference to the "Poyang". There was a general
expression of failure to understand why the UK and Hong Kong could
not settle this long outstanding matter between them.
5.
Our letter of 28 May to the FCO
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copy attached
summarises what we still regard as the very strong grounds on which
resettlement of the 26 (not 27 now two have been resettled else-
where and one has given birth) "Poyang" refugees in Hong Kong cannot be pursued. This letter also explains the procedural mix-up last
year that led eventually to the "Poyang" cases not being included in
the UK quota.
This, however, is history.
6.
We now have to face the growing embarrassment of the
"Poyang" cases; we have also the problem of an additional 2,700
refugees who have arrived here since we raised the "Poyang" issue with the FCO in May. In all these circumstances, I very much hope you will be able to consider our request concerning the "Poyang" in a favourable light. (You will see that our letter of 28 May
Fiol
refers also to 15 refugees rescued by another vessel, the mv "Hupeh" and now accommodated for over two years in the Philippines. /
While