CONFIDENTIAL
MED 2618
ZZ NOV 1983
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 4281
OF 221015Z NOVEMBER 88
N
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
1.
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
921
171507 MDLIAN 6220
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS
1. THE NUMBER OF EXTANT REQUESTS FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION NOW STANDS AT 384. WE HAVE RECIEVED A TOTAL OF 433 REQUESTS BUT 49 PEOPLE HAVE NOW NOTIFIED US THAT THEY WISH TO WITHDRAW THEIR APPLICATIONS.
2. UNHCR HAVE INFORMED US THAT FOLLOWING THEIR VALIDATION INTERVIEWS A FURTHER 113 PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED WITH THEIR REQUEST FOR REPATRIATION. UNHCR HAVE YET TO CONFIRM THIS BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREND. THE DELAYS IN COMPLETING FORMALITIES AND IN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETURN ARE A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND FOR OURSELVES.
3. UNLESS THE REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN UNHCR AND VIETNAM ARE SETTLED QUICKLY OUR JOINTLY AGREED OBJECTIVE OF RETURNING THE FIRST GROUP BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER WOULD SEEM TO BE IN JEOPARDY. WE FEAR THAT IF THERE ARE FURTHER DEALYS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES WILL ALSO WITHDRAW. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HANOI COULD PRESS THE VIETNAMESE ON WHEN THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE IN A POSITION TO GIVE US A CONFIRMED LISTS AND A FIRM DATE FOR THE FIRST GROUP TO RETURN.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
91
DISTRIBUTION
96
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
NEWS
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL