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(START CM) 44
7 OCTOBER 1986
G771
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FOR DAVID JEAFFRESON,
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY
FROM KEN WOODHOUSE IN GENEVA
COPIED TO 2 DELIA WALKER, UKMIS GENEVA
BEN TANG, HKG OFFICE LONDON (PLEASE PASS TO LEEKS AT FCO)
UNHCR EXCOM : DISCUSSIONS WITH BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL AND REFUGEE ACTION
I HAVE SPOKEN TO MARTIN BARKER OF BRC AND SHIRLEY FOZZARD OF REFUGEE ACTION, BOTH OF WHOM ARE HERE TO ATTEND A VOLAG CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN PARALLEL WITH EXCOM. I SAW THEM SEPARATELY.
2.
BOTH WERE SURPRISED THAT THE HOME OFFICE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE SCREENING THE UK FAMILY REUNION CASES.
THEY POINTED OUT THAT THEY HAD NEITHER THE RESOURCES NOR THE
AUTHORITY.
3. I EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR A LIST OF THE 657 REFUGEES WHOM THEY HAD CLAIMED MET THE UK CRITERIA.
A MEETING WITH MR. WADDINGTON LATER THIS MONTH AND WILL TRY TO HAVE THE LIST AVAILABLE.
THEY HAVE
4. REFUGEE ACTION HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY SISTER CHRISTINE TO HELP PROVIDE QUALIFIED VIETNAMESE-SPEAKING SOCIAL WORKERS FOR HONG KONG. THEY HAVE HEARD CONFLICTING STORIES FROM UNHCR, CARITAS AND SISTER CHRISTINE, AND WONDERED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I EXPLAINED THAT THERE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN A CLASH OF PERSONALITIES WHICH WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE. I THOUGHT THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE FUTURE.
5. I WILL BE MEETING BRC AND REFUGEE ACTION NEXT WEEK IN
LONDON AND THEY WISH TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FURTHER UK OFFTAKE.
ENDS
JJJ
(END CM)
CONFIDENTIAL
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