don 213/3
RECEIVED PLGISTRY
-3 NOV 1986
REGISTRY
Action Taken | CONFIDENTIAL
mek,
712
TOP RAY
72866
1
OCMIAN 2866
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
29133OZ OCT
GRS 1033
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 2425
کر
OF 29133OZ OCTOBER 86
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
FROM LAYDEN, HKD FOR JEAFFRESON
MEETING WITH THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
1.
I TOOK PART IN A MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER BETWEEN MR HOCKE
AND FCO OFFICIALS. PART OF THE DISCUSSION WAS ON VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
RESETTLEMENT
2.
I SAID WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR UNHCR'S HELP OVER THE LAST
YEAR IN SECURING RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR VRS FROM HONG KONG. THIS HELP, OUR OWN ACCEPTANCE OF THE 500, AND HONG KONG'S AGREEMENT TO TAKE 250, HAD ENABLED US TO SECURE 1,100 EXTRA RESETTLEMENT PLACES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT HONG KONG STILL HAD
MORE VRS, AND A HIGHER PROPORTION OF LONGSTAYERS, THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY OF FIRST ASYLUM. WOULD UNHCR BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE
PRIORITY TO HONG KONG VRS? M. HOCKE SAID HE WOULD QUOTE IF YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US UNQUOTE. HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HOPED THE UK WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT FURTHER REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT QUOTE PERHAPS 1,000 UNQUOTE. HE ADDED THAT THE PROGRAMME TO RESETTLE 250 VRS IN HONG KONG WAS NOT GOING WELL. HE UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM: IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET REFUGEES TO ACCEPT RESETTLEMENT IN HONG KONG WHILE THEY THOUGHT THEY MIGHT SECURE
HE SAID UNHCR STAFF PLACES IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE US OR AUSTRALIA.
WOULD HELP IN THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, MAKING IT CLEAR TO
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CONFIDENTIAL
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