TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 72

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PARA 5 OF YOUR TELNO 296: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON BOARD THE *WELL PARK??

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RECOTRY

Action Ten

1. MUCH THAT UNHCR WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THESE REFUGEES THEY SAY THAT THEY MUST STAND HELPLESSLY ON THE SIDELINES FOR FEAR OF JEOPARDISING THE UN POSITION ON TAIAN. A UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT THEREFORE VISIT TAIVAN AND UNHCR COULD ONLY ACT IF THE REFUGEES VERE TRANSFERRED ELSEWHERE, UNHCR ACCEPT THAT HONG KONG IS NOT A POSSIBLE DESTINATION. THEY HAVE THEREFORE (AS IN THE AVON FOREST CASE) REQUESTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE ON CATHOLIC MIGRATION (ICCM) HERE IN GENEVA TO DEAL WITH THESE REFUGEES THROUGH CARITAS, THE ONLY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION IN TAIWAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING THEM.

2. UNHCR AND ICOM HAVE SUGGESTED TO US THAT AS MOST OF THE

REFUGEES WILL NO DOUBT WANT TO GO TO THE US THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD ME FOR THE US CONSULATE IN TAIPEI TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARITAS FOR ESTABLISHING THEIR WISHES AND

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS. THERE ARE AT PRESENT 330 BOAT REFUGEES IN TAIWAN,

3. UNHCR HAVE AGREED TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR RESETTLEMENT COSTS FROM TAIWAN

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PSILORD GORONWY

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MRWEIR MRMURRAY MRCORTDzzl

MR FIGG

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MR BIRT, HOME' OFFICE.

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