CONFIDENTIAL
413
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 28153OZ FCO
TELNO 355
OF 281439Z JUNE
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
408
HKD 243/8
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
001556
MDHIAN 5184
YOUR TELNO 176 AND YOUR TELNO 1679 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. BAYANDOR CONFIRMS THAT PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISIT TO LONDON ON 29 JUNE ARE ACCEPTABLE.
2. UNHCR WISH TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO OUR DEMARCHE ON 9 JUNE COUR TELNO 326), ESPECIALLY (A) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (B) TIMING OF POLICY CHANGE (C) LIBERALISATION OF CLOSED CAMPS (D) DETERRENT ASPECTS OF POLICY, * PARTICULARLY WARNING NOTICES AND (E) OUTLOOK FOR AND CONDITIONS OF
DETENTION FOR SCREENED-OUT.
3. LACK OF UNHCR RESPONSE SO FAR TO INVITATION TO MONITOR SCREENING IN HONG KONG FLOWS DIRECTLY FROM CONCERN OVER REFUGEE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. THEY DO NOT WELCOME USE OF 1951/1967 CRITERIA IN PLACE OF WIDER HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS REHEARSED IN 1975 UNGA RESOLUTION ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. UNHCR INVOLVEMENT IN OR MONITORING OF SCREENING (WHICH WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO ENDORSEMENT OF OUR ACTIONS) IS LIKELY TO DEPEND ON THEIR SUCCESS IN PERSUADING US TO WIDEN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
VEREKER
YYYY
MAIN
126
.VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
129
SPD
FED
NEWS
1
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CONFIDENTIAL