OFO 008/27
0045
1451
TT FCO
*
GR 200
RESTRICTED
TELELETTER
contained texto dr
Mr Mellor's letter of 12 Aug, which it had
not recud.
FROM: C.E. LEEKS, SECURITY BRANCH, HONG KONG
FILE REF: SCR 13/581/79
Ans Wether
lxgl. Pl. dest
་
reply to Mellor.
73018
DATED 26 AUGUST 83
TO: R.J.F. HOARE ESQ., HKD, FCO
114
*
MISS WALKER'S TELELETTER OF 2 AUGUST 1983: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. 1. WE HAVE CONSULTED THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE ON THE RELEVANT POINTS IN MELLOR'S LETTER OF 12 AUGUST. THEIR REACTION WAS PREDICTABLE: REGARDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES TO BE RESETTLED IN PARAGUAY, UNHCR WOULD BE WILLING TO FUND ANY VIABLE SCHEME FOR A QUOTE DURABLE SOLUTION UNQUOTE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THEM. WE WOULD RATHER PURSUE THIS OPTION THAN CONSIDER AN HKG CONTRIBUTION TO THE COSTS OF SETTLEMENT, SINCE THIS WOULD BE VERY HARD TO JUSTIFY TO LOCAL OPINION. REGARDING GUARANTEES THAT THOSE RESETTLED WILL STAY ON THE LAND, THIS ASSURANCE UNHCR WERE OF COURSE UNABLE TO GIVE. THEIR VIEW, AND OURS, WOULD BE THAT THE KEY TO THIS LIES BOTH IN THE SELECTION PROCESS HERE AND IN THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY PARAGUAY FOR THOSE SELECTED.
2. AS TO NUMBERS, THE LATEST UNHCR ANALYSIS OF OUR VR CASELOAD SHOWS 183 ADULTS WHO HAVE RECORDED THEIR PROFESSION AS QUOTE FARMER UNQUOTE. THIS IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER OUT OF THE 13000 NOW HERE, AND WE MAY ASSUME IT EXCLUDES RURAL UNEMPLOYED AND LABOURERS. WITH FAMILIES THESE 183 MIGHT COMPRISE ABOUT 600 PERSONS. HOWEVER, OVER 100 HAVE BEEN IN OPEN REFUGEE CENTRES FOR SOME TIME, AND SO WILL HAVE INTEGRATED FAIRLY WELL INTO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. THE 70 OR SO IN CLOSED CENTRES WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO START ANY SELECTION PROCESS FOR PARAGUAY, TO WHICH WE MIGHT THEN ADD VOLUNTEERS OR CAREFULLY SELECTED INDIVIDUALS FROM THE OPEN CENTRES.
SIGNED C.E. LEEKS
NNNN
HKK 243/.
RECEIVED IN TILO STAY
30 SEP 1983
DFSK DO! 120X
M