GPS 575
CONFIDENTIAL
HICK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2.5 AUG 1983
DESK OFFICER
CONFIDENTIAL
INDEX
FM HONG KONG 163225Z AUG 83
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1232 OF 16 AUGUST 1983
PA
↓
REGISTR
Action Taken
as m
Ang bother Plunder pare
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE NEW YORK
121
bult to seger
106
OUR TELNO 1113: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WE HAVE SO FAR HAD NO OFFICIAL NEWS OF THE HONOLULU PROCEEDINGS,
AND UNOFFICIAL REPORTS SUGGEST LITTLE WAS ACHIEVED. HOWEVER A
SIMULTANEOUS WORKING LEVEL MEETING IN MANILA OF US STATE DEPARTMENT
AND INS OFFICIALS SEEMS TO HAVE PRODUCED A NEW US INITIATIVE ON
RESETTLEMENT OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEES.
2. WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE MANILA GATHERING BY USCG OFFICIALS
AND BY DORIS MEISSNER, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER OF INS WHO
VISITED HERE ON 11-13 AUGUST. IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM (DOMESTIC
AND FOREIGN) OF UNEVEN APPLICATION BY INS OF RULES GOVERNING DETERMINATION OF REFUGEE STATUS, NEW US GUIDELINES WILL WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT REPLACE CURRENT DETERMINATION OF REFUGEE STATUS ON INDIVIDUAL BASIS WITH A QUOTE PRESUMPTIVE REFUGEE STATUS UNQUOTE
FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS. FOR VIETNAM THESE GROUPS ARE:
(1) PREVIOUS ARVN PERSONNEL
(11) PREVIOUS EMPLOYEES OF SOUTH VIETNAM GOVERNMENT
111) ETHNIC CHINESE
(IV) RELIGIOUS GROUPS
(V) MONTAGNARD GROUPS PREVIOUSLY LINKED TO US FORCES
-(VI) WESTERN-EDUCATED PERSONS
(VII) PREVIOUS INMATES OF REEDUCATION CAMPS
(VIII) THOSE SENT TO LABOUR CAMPS AND NEZS FOR POLITICAL REASONS
3. HENCEFORTH IF VRS CAN CONVINCE INS THEY ARE PART OF ONE OF THESE
CATEGORIES, THEIR REFUGEE STATUS WILL BE ASSUMED. FOR THE REST, PROCESSING WILL BE AS BEFORE.
4. (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) COMMENT WE CANNOT YET SAY HOW FAR THIS US CHANGE WILL AFFECT OUR OFFTAKE. OVER 50 PER CENT OF CURRENT
ARRIVALS ARE NORTH VIETNAMESE, OF WHOM VERY FEW WILL FALL INTO
ABOVE CATEGORIES. SINCE HOWEVER MOST INS DENIALS ARE NOW ON BASIS
THAT APPLICANT HAS NO REFUGEE STATUS, WE EXPECT SOME IMPROVEMENT. MORE IMPORTANT WILL BE EFFECT ON RESIDUAL CASES: USCG GUESSES AN
EXTRA 1,000 OPEN CENTRE CASES MAY NOW QUALIFY FOR US PROGRAMME.
WE SHALL OF COURSE GIVE THESE CHANGES NO PUBLICITY.
CONFIDENTIAL
5.