TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 224

PRIORITY GPS 230

IN CLAIR

FM UKMIS GENEVA 31133OZ

UNCLASSIFIED

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 858 OF 31 OCT

INFO PRICRITY SINGAPORE

INFO SAVING KUALA LUMPUR HONG KONG HANOI

253

SINGAPORE TELNO 338: VIETNAMESE REFUGEE POLICY

WKK 243/1

258

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

-

- 2 OCT 1978

DESK OF CER

INDEX

No

PA

له

REGIOTRY Action T

en

CLE

1. UNHCR HAVE SENT A CIRCULAR TELEX (COPIES BY BAG) TO CERTAIN MISSIONS HERE CONTAINING THE TEXT OF A MESSAGE FROM THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO THE SINGAPORE FOREIGN MINISTER IN REPLY TO THE AIDE MEMOIRE RECEIVED ON 26 OCTOBER. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER APPEALS FOR THE POLICY OUTLINED IN THE AIDE MEMOIRE TO BE RECONSIDERED FOR THREE REASONS:

(A) UNHCR HAS ALWAYS SUCCEEDED WITHOUT UNDUE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING ADEQUATE LODGING FOR REFUGEES:

(3) NO COSTS FALL TO THE SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES:

(C) ALL THOSE PERMITTED TO DISEMBARK AGAINST RESETTLEMENT GUARANTE -ES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE SINGAPORE WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD.

2. THE MESSAGE REFERS TO THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CONSULTATIONS

WHICH WITH INTERESTED GOVERNMENTS ABOUT SOUTH EAST ASIAN REFUGEES WHICH WERE CALLED FOR BY LAST MONTH'S UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE HERE ON 11 AND 12 DECEMBER. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS TWO OF HIS SENIOR STAFF WILL VISIT THE AREA AND BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT,

3. THE CIRCULAR TO MISSIONS CONCLUDES IN LIGHT RECENT DECISION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REGARDING RESCUE AT SEA HIGH COMMISSIONER INSTRUCTED THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO PROCEED IN CLUSE CO- OPERATION WITH DIPLOMATIC/CONSULAR MISSIONS SINGAPORE IN ESTABLISHING A CO-ORDINATED APPROACH. WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT'S FULLEST SUPPORT IN ASSOCIATING UNHCR WITH RESPONSE TO SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT'S AIDE MEMOIRE IN ORDER OBTAIN OVERALL SATIS- FACTORY ARRANGEMENT THIS REGARD.

FCO PASS SAVING TO KUALA LUMPUR HONG KONG HANOI

MURRAY

FILES

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/

UND

PS

SEAD

HK & GD

MVD

PUSD

PS/MR LUARD

PS/LORD GOROMWWY-ROBERTS

MR GRAHAM

MR WEIR

NEWS D 010

MR STRATTON.

MR CORTAZZI