CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RE
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR
TELNO 11
OF 030802Z OCTOBER 88
INFO PRIORITY FCO
第23
MKD 243/15
-40CT 1988
157116
MDLIAN 1922
on Taker.
TOP COPY
YOUR TELNO 15: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
WE HAVE JUST COMMENCED REINTERVIEWING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE AGREED WITH UNHCR. NO DETERMINATION HAS YET BEEN MADE ON THE STATUS OF THOSE SO FAR INTERVIEWED. WE WILL PROVIDE REPORTS TO EMBASSIES IN
ASEAN AND ICG COUNTRIES AS AND WHEN RESULTS OF THE DETERMINATION OF STATUS ARE READY FOR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
2. AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER, UNHCR HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 292 APPLICATIONS FOR REPATRIATION FROM VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED AFTER 16 JUNE 1988. 54 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN VALIDATED AND PASSED ON TO HANOI BY UNHCR. WE EXPECT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS TO INCREASE AS THE VBPS REALISE THERE ARE NO PROSPECTS OF RESETTLEMENT.
3. IN ADDITION, UNHCR HAS ALSO PASSED ON TO HANOI 17 APPLICATIONS FOR REPATRIATION FROM VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, I.E. PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED BEFORE 16 JUNE.
4. WE BRIEFED CONSULS-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONERS ON THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNHCR ON 20 SEPTEMBER. A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT WAS HANDED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR MALAYSIA DURING THE BRIEFING. A FURTHER COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING IS BEING SENT TO YOU BY BAG.
WILSON
YYYY
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