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GRS 340
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIALTOP COPY
FM UKMIS GENEVA 171615Z MAY 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 200 OF 17 MAY
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY HANOI
(168)
FCO TELNO 685 TO HONG KONG AND TELCON MOSS/GALSWORTHY (HKD): VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
SUMMARY
1. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES OFFERS TO VISIT LONDON TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INCREASED UK INTAKE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND HOW UNHCR MIGHT PERSUADE OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW SUIT.
DETAIL
2. MR HARTLING ASKED ME TO CALL TODAY (17 MAY). HE SAID THAT DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG HE HAD IN GENERAL, BEEN FAVOURABLY IMPRESSED BY THE CONDITIONS IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CAMPS. HE DID NOT LIKE THE CLOSED CAMPS, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT REFUGEE CAMPS WERE NOT OPEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE AREA. WHAT CONCERNED HIM ABOVE ALL WAS THE LENGTH OF TIME MANY REFUGEES HAD SPENT IN HONG KONG. SOME OF THE CHILDREN KNEW NOTHING BUT CAMP LIFE. SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.
3.
HARTLING SAID THAT HE HAD READ THE SCORRI REPORT CAREFULLY AND LIKED IT. BEFORE ANY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE TOOK PLACE ON THE ISSUE HE WONDERED WHETHER WE WOULD WELCOME A VISIT BY HIM TO LONDON SO THAT HE COULD DISCUSS THE ISSUES WITH THE FCO AND HOME OFFICE MINISTERS CONCERNED. (HE MENTIONED MR LUCE AND MR WADDINGTON IN PARTICULAR.) HE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE TO PROSPECTS OF THE UK ACCEPTING MORE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, PARTICULARLY LONG-STAYERS, AND WOULD ALSO OFFER UNHCR HELP IN PERSUADING OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO INCREASE THEIR OFFTAKE FROM HONG KONG AS A FOLLOW UP TO A UK EXAMPLE..
4. ON TIMING HARTLING SAID THAT HE COULD SET ASIDE FRIDAY 24 NAY FOR SUCH A VISIT. IF THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE TOO SOON, HE WAS AVAILABLE BETWEEN 5 AND 12 JUNE. HE THOUGHT A SHORT CALL (PERHAPS 30 MINUTES LON, EACH
SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
MKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
20 MAY 1985
DESK OFFICER
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