CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
НКО 243/8
RECEN
13 SEP 1988
788
063550 MDHIAN 3141
IND
TO DESKBY 121300Z FCO
TELNO 3419
aus
Q DIGT 7
OF 12114OZ SEPTEMBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA
682
YOUR TELNO 2313; VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: TALKS WITH
VIETNAM AND UNHCR EXCOM MEETING
IT HAS NOW BEEN DRAWN TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE UNHCR WILL TAKE PLACE IN GENEVA FROM 4-10 OCTOBER. THIS RAISES PROBLEMS BOTHER OVER STAFFING AND TIMING OF OUR BILATERAL TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE.
2.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, ALTHOUGH THE EXCOM MEETING WILL COVER A NUMBER OF BUDGETARY AND OTHER HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS, THERE WILL BE A GENERAL REVIEW OF REFUGEE AFFAIRS, INCLUDING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ALERTED BY UNHCR LOCALLY THAT OUR DRAFT AGREEMENT WITH THEM AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG ARE VERY LIKELY TO BE
SUBJECTS OF INTEREST AT EXCOM.
3. GIVEN THE DESIRABILITY OF KEEPING FIRST ASYLUM AND RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THE UNHCR ON SIDE, THERE IS A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR TRYING TO ARRANGE THE TIMING OF OUR BILATERAL TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT EXCOM TO EXPLAIN OUR
POSITION IN ADVANCE. IN PARTICULAR THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN
GETTING SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF MULTILATERAL RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE
THROUGH UNHCR. IT IS TRUE THAT TO RAISE ALL THIS AT EXCOM COULD
RUN THE RISK THAT WE WOULD MEET REQUESTS TO HOLD UP OUR DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE VIETNAMESE UNTIL A MULTILATERAL LINE HAD BEEN AGREED.
HOWEVER, WE THINK THAT THIS COULD BE RESISTED.
4.
SEEN FROM HERE THERE ARE TWO ALTERNATIVES. IF THE EXCOM AGENDA
ALLOWS FOR DISCUSSION ON VIETNAM EARLY ON WE COULD CLEAR OUR LINES
ON THAT SUBJECT IN THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEK AND STILL BE ABLE TO
HOLD TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE IN THE SAME WEEK, SAY ON 6 AND 7 OCTOBER. AN ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO DELAY TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE
UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK (BEGINNING 10 OCTOBER).
5. WE APOLOGISE FOR THROWING IN THIS ADDITIONAL COMPLICATION, WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE PRACTICALITIES FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF UKMIS GENEVA COULD
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