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MKD 243/8
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MDLIAN 7821
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2429
OF 24103OZ JUNE 88
386
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Q
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YOUR TELNO 1597: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: LETTER FROM SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND
1. NICHOLAS HINTON'S LETTER SEEMS TO US GENERALLY POSITIVE AND HELPFUL. AS YOU KNOW, HOWEVER, WE HAVE ALREADY INFORMED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN HONG KONG THAT WE DO NOT ENVISAGE THEIR BEING INVOLVED IN PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE DETENTION CENTRES FOR SCREENED OUT IIS. THE LINE THAT WE ARE TAKING IN PUBLIC IS: QUOTE DETENTION CENTRES WILL BE OPERATED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD). FAMILIES WILL BE KEPT TOGETHER AND CHILDREN WILL BE GIVEN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. CSD WILL RUN WORKSHIPS AND PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. UNQUOTE.
2. WHILE WE RECOGNISE THE DIFFICULTIES, WE WOULD SUPPORT HINTON'S SUGGESTION THAT BRITISH NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO WORK IN VIETNAM TO ALLEVIATE CONDITIONS THERE AND ASSIST WITH RESETTLEMENT OF THOS REPATRIATED.
3. WE WOULD ALSO, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, SUPPORT HIS SUGGESTION THAT HMG SHOULD GIVE THE LEAD IN THE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. THIS IS A RECURRING THEME IN THE RESPONSES FROM OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES NOTABLY THE US AND AUSTRALIA (SEE FOR EXAMPLE PARA 5 OF WASHINGTON TELNO 1465). A UK LEAD IS LIKELY TO BE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN DEALING WITH WHAT WE HOPE WILL NOW BE A FINITE COMMITMENT.
WILSON
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