739
CONFIDENTIAL
нко 24318
RECEIVE
5 SEP 1988
041056
MDHIAN 2180
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3253
OF 050830Z SEPTEMBER 88
2
IN
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA,
(722,
·
ioms
HKGO NEW YORK
634
HONG KONG TELNO. 3207. WASHINGTON TELNO. 2121 IRAC VISIT TO HONG KONG
1. WE HAVE APPROACHED THE UNHCR IN HONG KONG WITH OUR PROPOSAL THAT THE IRAC VISIT TO HEI LING CHAU TAKE PLACE UNDER UNHCR AUSPICES. THE PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE BUT IT SEEMS THAF FORMAL AGREEMENT WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR KAREEM TO CONSULT GENEVA. THIS COULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS AND BRING US BEYOND THE 7 SEPTEMBER DEPARTURE DATE FOR MS DILLER.
2. WE HAVE THEREFORE (WITH UNHCR AGREEMENT) PUT A SIMILAR PROPOSAL TO THE US CONSULATE AND WE HAVE THEIR AGREEMENT TO THE IRAC'S VISIT TO HEI LING CHAU BEING CONSULATE-LED. THEY HAVE ALSO OFFERED TO SPONSOR A VISIT TO HEI LING CHAU FOR MR SHEPARD LOWMAN OF REFUGEES INTER- NATIONAL AND WE WOULD BE CONTENT TO PROCEED ON THIS BASIS.
3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF WASHINGTON COULD REPLY TO THE IRAC (AND OTHERS IN THE SAME CATEGORY) USING THE FOLLOWING DRAFT..
BEGINS:
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE DETENTION CENTRES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND FOR THOSE GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE RIGHTS OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. IT HAS THEREFORE OPERATED A POLICY OF PERMITTING VISITS TO THE CENTRES BY CONSULAR OFFICIALS, THE UNHCR AND CONCERNED GROUPS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THEIR CONSULATES OR THE UNHCR.
(FOR IRAC:)
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS RECONSIDERED THE REQUEST FROM THE IRAC FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT THE HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE AND WOULD BE PLEASED TO INCLUDE SUCH A VISIT IN MS DILLER'S PROGRAMME PROVIDED THAT IT TAKES PLACE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE US CONSULATE
IN HONG KONG. THE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN HONG KONG BETWEEN
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