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CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
031637
MDHIAN 1892
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3207
OF 01103OZ SEPTEMBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA,
HKD 243/8
773
·714
N
715
YOUR TELNO 2207 AND WASHINGTON'S TELNOS 2087 AND 2088
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. IRAC VISIT.
DRAFT
1. WE AGREE THAT THE BALANCE OF ADVANTAGE HAS NOW SHIFTED IN FAVOUR
OF ALLOWING THE IRAC TO VISIT THE HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE AS
WELL AS THE CLOSED CENTRES.
2. OBVIOUSLY A KEY CONCERN FOR US IS TO MAINTAIN SECURITY WITHIN THE
DETENTION CENTRES. THE SITUATION IS NOW CALM, BUT IT IS HIGHLY
FRAGILE. ONCE THE FIRST BATCH OF BOAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT, WE MUST EXPECT THE ATMOSPHERE TO TURN TENSE VERY QUICKLY. IN THE INTERIM IT WOULD TAKE VERY LITTLE TO PROVOKE
FURTHER UNREST. CONTACT WITH A PRESSURE GROUP LIKE THE IRAC, WHO REPRESENT THE PROSPECT OF RESETTLEMENT AND BY IMPLICATION A CHALLENGE
TO OUR POLICY, THEREFORE REPRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE RISK.
3. DESPITE ALL THIS WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO KEEP THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE AMERICANS, ON SIDE. WE JUDGE THAT IT IS BETTER TO ACCEPT AND TRY TO MANAGE THE RISK REPRESENTED BY IRAC.
BUT WE DO NOT WISH TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES TO ANY NGO OR HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUP THAT DECIDES IT WISHES TO BECOME INVOLVED. OUR LINE AT PRESENT
IS THAT ONLY UNHCR AND CONSULATE-LED GROUPS MAY HAVE ACCESS TO THE
DETENTION CENTRES. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO SAY THAT IRAC ARE WELCOME
TO VISIT HEI LING CHAU IF THEY DO SO UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNHCR.
WE BELIEVE THAT UNHCR, WHOSE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY, WILL BE A HELPFUL INFLUENCE ON IRAC, PARTICULARLY IN EXPLAINING OUR INTENDED RELAXING OF CONDITIONS IN THE DETENTION CENTRES AND
ELSEWHERE. WE ARE THEREFORE CONTACTING UNHCR LOCALLY TO SEE IF THEY
WOULD BE WILLING TO PROCEED ON THIS BASIS. IF THEY ARE, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF WASHINGTON COULD INFORM IRAC ACCORDINGLY.
4. IT WOULD BE ALSO MOST HELPFUL IF WASHINGTON COULD CONVEY THE IDEA
TO IRAC THAT WE HOPE THAT THE IRAC TEAM WOULD HAVE A GENUINELY
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