RECEIVED IN REGIST VY
- 8 OCT 1986
Y
OCMIAN 5676
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 01010OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
301145Z SEP
GRS 399
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 0101002 HONG KONG
TELNO 2085
OF 301145Z SEPTEMBER 86
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
MY THIRD IPT: UNHCR EXCOM
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Q DIST ?
65676
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UNHCR NOTE (ES/SCP/44 OF 19 AUGUST) ON THE DETENTION OF REFUGEES
AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS
HONG KONG ASPECTS
POINTS TO MAKE
(DEFENSIVE)
1. (IF ASKED WHETHER HONG KONG COMPLIES WITH THE 1951
CONVENTION.) 1951 CONVENTION WAS NOT EXTENDED TO HONG KONG
BECAUSE OF TERRITORY'S SMALL SIZE AND GEOGRAPHICAL VULNERABILITY
TO MASS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
2. (IF ASKED WHETHER HONG KONG'S CLOSED CAMPS POLICY IS
CRITICISED IMPLICITLY IN THE NOTE.) CONFIDENT HONG KONG IS NOT A
TARGET. HONG KONG RUNS ITS CAMPS AS HUMANELY AS POSSIBLE IN THE
LIGHT OF THE SEVERE BURDENS THE TERRITORY HAS BORNE IN REFUGEE
AND IMMIGRATION TERMS.
3. (IF ASKED ABOUT UNHCR'S GENERAL ATTITUDE TO HONG KONG'S
CLOSED CAMPS.) IN MID-1985 MR HARTLING, THE LAST UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SAID IN HONG KONG THAT HE DID NOT
LIKE IDEA OF CLOSED CAMPS, BUT THAT INSIDE THE CLOSED CAMP WHICH
HE VISITED (BOWRING) HE FOUND THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CONDITIONS,
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