GRS 300
RESTRICTED
FM MANILA
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 206
OF 150302Z APRIL 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
нии газ 3 2435
RECEIV
PAISTRY
2 1 APR 1986
DES:
INDEY
INFO ROUTINE SINGAPORE, UKMIS GENEVA, BONN, PARIS
74
REGISTRY
setion Laxen
HONG KONG TELNO 1085 TO FCO: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: MERCY SHIPS.
1.
UNHCR AND FRG EMBASSY IN MANILA ARE AWARE OF THE DETAILS
IN PARAS 1 TO 3 OF TUR. IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT A
FRENCH BASED ORGANISATION MEDICINS DU MONDE IS JOINTLY
SPONSORING THE REGINE'S OPERATIONS. THIS ORGANISATION IS CURRENTLY
TRYING TO OBTAIN FRENCH GOVERNMENT CLEARANCE FOR THE RESETTLEMENT
OF A TOTAL OF 300 REFUGEES, BUT THE FRENCH EMBASSY SAY THEY HAVE
NO NEWS FROM PARIS OF THEIR SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE.
2.
UNHCR CONFIRM THE REGINE SAILED FROM SINGAPORE FOR PALAWAN
ON 12 APRIL. THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES HAVE TOLD THE GERMANS
THEY WILL NOT ALLOW HER TO ENTER FORT UNLESS A GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT IS PROVIDED FOR ALL THE REFUGEES ON BOARD. FRG
EMBASSY IS SEEKING CONTINGENCY AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE ALL 330
REFUGEES IF THE FRENCH DO NOT DELIVER IN TIME.
FOR HONG KONG.
3. UNHCR TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US THAT THEY HAD BEEN
INFORMED BY YOU SOME 3 WEEKS AGO THAT A REFUGEE BOAT CONTAINING
55 *SUSPECTED EX CHINA VIETNAMESE REFUGEES'' HAD LEFT HONG KONG
FOR EITHER THE PHILIPPINES OR TAIWAN. UNHCR LEARNED ON 11 APRIL
THAT A BOAT WITH A SIMILAR NUMBER OF REFUGEES HAD LANDED ON THE
BATANES ISLANDS TO THE FAR NORTH OF LUZON. IF THE REFUGEES ON THIS
BOAT DO FALL INTO THE 'EX CHINA'' CATEGORY UNHCR SAY THEY WILL
DECLINE TO ACCOMODATE THEM, THUS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE PHILIPPINES
GOVERNMENT TO REPATRIATE THEM DIRECT TO CHINA. THEY HAVE
UNDERTAKEN TO INFORM US WHEN THE PROVENANCE OF THE GROUP IS
IDENTIFIED.
MCLAREN
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
SEAD
HKD
UND
FED
NEWS D
MAED
PS
PS/MR RENTON
SIR W HARDING
MR O'NEILL MR WILSON
BOAT PEOPLE
RESTRICTED
: