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OR ECONOMIC MIGRANTS WOULD ALLOW VIETNAM TO ARGUE THAT AS THEY WERE
NOT REFUGEES UNHCR HAD NO LEGITIMATE CONCERN FOR THEIR FATE AFTER
THEY RETURNED TO VIETNAM.
7. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, HOCKE, THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GIVE UNHCR PUBLIC BLESSING TO CHANGE IN HONG KONG POLICY. HE ALSO
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF CLOSED CAMPS IN HONG KONG, EVEN IF CONDITIONS FOR THOSE SCREENED-IN WAS TO BE LIBERALISED.
8.
IN REPLY I EMPHASISED THAT THE CHANGE IN POLICY WAS ONLY BEING INTRODUCED AFTER CAREFUL AND PROLONGED CONSIDERATION, CULMINATING IN
YOUR RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG. I STRESSED THE POSITIVE ELEMENTS IN
THE NEW POLICY, SUCH AS THE OFFER TO ASSOCIATE UNHCR WITH THE
SCREENING PROCESS AND THE APPEALS PROCEDURE, AND THE ASSURANCES ABOUT NON-RETRUN OF THE SCREENED-OUT UNLESS ADEQUATE ASSURANCES WERE OBTAINED FROM VIETNAM. HOCKE NOTED THESE POINTS, AND SAID HE WOULD BEAR THEM IN MIND IN PREPARING HIS FORMAL RESPONSE.
COMMENT
9. HOCKE'S PRELIMINARY REACTION WAS RELATIVELY PREDICTABLE. WHILE HE SYMPATHISES WITH THE SUDDEN WORSENING IN THE SITUATION, HE IS CONCERNED LEST UNILATERAL ACTION BY UK, FOLLOWING SIMILAR UNILATERAL ACTION IN THAILAND AND MALAYSIA MAKES A REGIONAL SOLUTION MORE
DIFFICULT.
SANKEY
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
40
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
40
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
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