GRS 400
RESTRICTED
FM MANILA
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 24
OF 130613Z DECEMBER 85
INFO ROUTINE FCO
RESTRICTED
He Walle
INFO SAVING BANGKOK, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR AND SINGAPORE
320
Ooops.
fa 243/5 pa
HONG KONG TELNO 40: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: VISIT OF WOOD HOUSE
TO UNHCR CAMPS IN THE PHILIPPINES
MKKC 243/S
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 DEC 1985
DESK OFFICEA
INDEX
1. HEAD OF CHANCERY HAS DISCUSSED WOODHOUSE'S PROPOSED
VISIT WITH BAYER, MANILA UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE. BAYER IS
CONTENT WITH THE TIMING OF THE PROPOSED VISIT AND WOULD
WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE MATTERS SUGGESTED
IN PARA 2 OF TUR. BUT HE ADVISED AGAINST DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE PHILIPPINES AUTHORITIES UNLESS WOODHOUSE IS
PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF EX-CHINESE REFUGEES
WHO REACH THE PHILIPPINES VIA HONG KONG.
2. BAYER CLAIMS THAT IT IS THE PRACTICE OF THE HONG KONG
POLICE TO INTERCEPT REFUGEE VESSELS AND ENCOURAGE ''THEM
TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY (IN PRACTICE TO THE PHILIPPINES VIA TAIWAN) BY EXPLAINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CLOSED CAMP POLICY. HE SAYS THAT WHILE UNHCR HAVE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO THIS PROCEDURE WHERE GENUINE REFUGEES ARE
CONCERNED THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES MUST BE AWARE THAT SOME GROUPS INCLUDE REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN SETTLED IN CHINA AND THAT THESE CANNOT BE FURTHER PROCESSED BY UNHCR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 100 SUCH REFUGEES IN THE PALAWAN CAMP,
86 OF WHOM ARRIVED IN 1985.
3. ACCORDING TO BAYER UNHCR BELIEVE THAT MANY MORE EXCHINA REFUGEES ARE ON THEIR WAY AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BECOME SERIOUS. HE HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF THE FILIPINO AUTHORITIES TO THE PRESENCE OF THE 100 IN PALAWAN AND HAS INSISTED (IN A LETTER DATED 2 DECEMBER) THAT THEY
SHOULD EITHER BE SETTLED IN THE PHILIPPINES OR RETURNED BY
THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT TO THE PRC. BAYER CLAIMS THAT THE FILIPINOS ARE UNWILLING TO GRASP THE NETTLE OF DEALING
DIRECT WITH THE PRC AND SAYS HE HAS URGED THEM TO MAKE
REPRESENTATIONS TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PERSUADE THEM
TO STOP SENDING ON EX-CHINA REFUGEES.
PA
Nan
RESTRICTED
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