GRPS 230 IMMEDIATE
DESKBY 082300Z
CYPHER CAT A
FM F C O 081550Z
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 341/1
VENNLU IS DANGERY NO. 51 13 FEB:978
RIDEX
(10)
DESKBY 082390Z
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 108 OF 8 FEBRUARY,
1. THE UN ASSOCIATION HAS SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE A
RESOLUTION PASSED BY THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE QUOTE DEPLORING
THAT CHINESE CITIZENS WHO SEEK ASYLUM IN HONG KONG WITHOUT THE
AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND WHO ARE SUBSEQUENTLY TERMED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ARE, AFTER INTERROGATION WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, REPATRIATED TO CHINA BY THE AUTHORITIES IN
HONG KONG UNQUOTE: AND URGING QUOTE IMG TO EXPLAIN THE APPLICABILITY
OF THE UN CONVENTION OF 28 JULY 1951 RELATING TO THE STATUS OF
REFUGEES AND THE PROTOCOL OF 1967, TO HONG KONG AND TO ANY OTHER
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WHERE THESE INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT YET APPLY
UNQUOTE. WE WOULD PROPOSE TO REPLY, PROVIDED THIS IS STILL THE CASE, THAT NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HAS APPLIED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM NOR IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
FALLS WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF A REFUGEE GIVEN IN THE UN
CONVENTION. WE WOULD ALSO ADD THAT EACH CASE IS DEALT WITH ON AN
INDIVIDUAL BASIS IN A MANNER WHICH WE BELIEVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE
AND THAT, IF THERE ARE HUMANITARIAN REASONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN HONG KONG, HE WOULD NOT BE REPATRIATED.
WE WOULD ALSO CONFIRM THAT WE ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH YOU ON THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOME FORM OF QUOTE PRISONER'S FRIEND UNQUOTE
ATTENDING AT INTERVIEWS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
COMMENTS BY 0900Z 9 FEBRUARY.
OWEN
FILES
HK & GD (5)
Ni
COPIES TO:
UND
FED
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 165Page 166
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.