GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM MANILA 180655Z MAR 85
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 83 OF 18 MARCH
INFU PRIORITY WASHINGTON, HONG KONG, UKNIS GENEVA
QOUCFO SAVING HANGI
82
YOUR TELNO 45€ TO WASHINGTON: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. THE UNHCR CAMP ON BATAAN IS INDEED WELL RUN AND HAS EXCELLENT FACILITIES. IT HAS A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 17,000 AND IS MORE OR LESS CONTINUOUSLY FULL. THERE IS ROOM FOR A PHYSICAL EXPANSION OF THE CAMP AND CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THIS IN RECENT YEARS BUT THE IDEA HAS NOW APPARENTLY BEEN DROPPED.
2. THE CAMP CATERS SOLELY FOR REFUGEES WHO HAVE A GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT IN A DESIGNATED COUNTRY. THE VAST MAKORITY ARE BOUND FOR THE US BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY A SMALL PROGRAMME FOR REFUGEES GOING TO NORWAY. IN EACH CASE THE SEPARATE ORIENTATION PROGRAMME S ARE FINANCED BY THE RECIPIENT GOVERNMENT.
3. REFUGEES WITH A GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT ARE BROUGHT TO BATAAN FROM CAMPS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE REGION, INCLUDING THAT RUN BY UNHCR IN PALAWAN. ORIENTATION COURSES NORMALLY LAST 8 MONTHS.
4. DURING THE PERIOD 1979 TO 1982 ORIENTATION COURSES WERE RUN IN BATAAN FOR THE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY THE GNRMAN QUOTE MERCY SHIP UNQUOTE THE KAP ANAMUR. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT FINANCED THESE COURSES BUT THEIR REFUGEES HAVE NOW ALL LEFT THE CAMP.
5. ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE UNHCR COULD SET UP ORIENTATION COURSES FOR REFUGEES BOUND FOR THE UK ME DUPLICATE WHAT IS CURRENTLY DONE BY
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OUR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. BUT HMG WOULD PRESUMABLY BE REQUIRED TO FUND THE EXERCISE (AND POSSIBLY STAFF IT). GIVEN THAT THE CAMP IS MÜRE OR LESS CONSTANTLY FULL THE QUESTION OF ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS/ FACILITIES WOULD ALSO ARISE UNLESS THE VOLUME OF US BOUND REFUGEES WAS REDUCED.
6. FCO PLEASE PASS SAVING.
MORGAN
LIMITED
HKD
UND
SEAD
PS/MR LUCE
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
TKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN MECKSTRY 12 MAR 1985
CAL
Cu Taken
CONFIDENTIAL
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