373
CONFIDENTIAL
163537
MDHOAN 8825
HKD 243/8 нко
23 JUN 1986
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 23010OZ PEKING
TELNO 577
OF 221515Z JUNE 88
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
FOLLOWING FOR LORD GLENARTHUR'S PARTY FROM HKD
HONG KONG TELNOS 239U-2391: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
(371) (372
1. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING IN THE LIGHT OF HONG KONG TUR SHOW
BEST TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON UNHCR TO PURSUE THEIR CONTACTS WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON REPATRIATION OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG. ONE IDEA WOULD BE FOR LORD GLENARTHUR TO CALL ON HOCKE IN GENEVA, AFTER HIS RETURN FROM HONG KONG.
2.
SUCH A MEETING WOULD BE HELPFUL IN PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY: (A) TO ENCOURAGE HOCKE TO INTENSIFY HIS EFFORTS WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON REPATRIATION:
(B) TO MEND ANY BROKEN FENCES IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UNHCR
AND TO TRY TO INCREASE HOCKE'S SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE
NEW POLICY IN HONG KONG. LORD GLENARTHUR COULD EMPHASISE THE ELEMENTS OF THE NEW POLICY WHICH SHOULD APPEAL TO UNHCR (MAINTENANCE OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR GENUINE REFUGEES, LIBERALISATION OF THE CENTRES FOR REFUGEES, SCREENING PROCESS UNDER UNHCR GUIDELINES, PROVISION FOR UNHCR TO MONITOR SCREENING AND ASSIST WITH APPEALS): EXPLAIN AGAIN WHY WE COULD NOT DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW POLICY: AND PUT ANY DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION ON THE WARNING NOTICES INTO PERSPECTIVE. WHILE EXPLAINING AGAIN WHY WE REGARD THE MAINTENANCE OF THE DETERRENT
ASPECT AS VITAL AT THIS INITIAL STAGE, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER THE PROSPECT OF A REVIEW OF THE WORDING IN DUE COURSE:
(C) TO ASK HOCKE TO CONSIDER THE IDEA THAT UNHCR SHOULD MEET MORE OF THE COSTS ARISING FROM THE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, POSSIBLY AS PART OF A PACKAGE OF MEASURES THAT WOULD ALSO INVOLVE LIBERALISATION OVER TIME OF CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CAMPS. IDEALLY LORD GLENARTHUR WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO INFORM UNHCR OF A NEW UK RESETTLEMENT COMMITMENT, BUT WE CANNOT YET JUDGE THE CHANCES OF THAT.
3
THERE ARE SOME RISKS INHERENT IN SUCH A MEETING WE ARE
AWARE OF INTERNAL DIFFERENCES IN UNHCR WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNHCR'S BACKING AWAY FROM THEIR ALREADY QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE
NEW POLICY, ALTHOUGH IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT UNHCR WOULD BE ABLE TO CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM A REFUGEE PROBLEM.
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