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Assistant Political Adviser
Government Secretariat HONG KONG
PA
Your reference
Our reference
Date
Arr
UN C18/3
27 April 1979
I Williamzy J 1274
VISIT OF UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO CHINA
1.
NIT
30.4
Please refer to your telno 8 of 25 April. As I mentioned to you on the telephone the High Commissioner will be visiting China from 1-18 May. He has been invited in his capacity as a former Danish Prime Minister and as yet does not know what his programme is or where the Chinese propose to take him. lartling plans to travel on a Chinese plane. We do not know yet what China's real purpose is in. inviting Hartling but undoubtedly he hopes to take the opportunity of discussing refugee matters.
2. There will be no press releases or communiques and indeed the Chinese have asked that the visit be given no publicity. Hartling is due to visit the Arusha Conference on the Situation of Refugees in Africa which opens on 7 May and he may travel directly from there to China. Dayal, who acts as a kind of private secretary to the High Commissioner, automatically assumed that my enquiries were linked with Hong Kong and volunteered that it would be very difficult for the High Commissioner to include Hong Kong in his programme as this would publicize the visit against the wishes of the Chinese. I know that others in UNHCR would see considerable advantage in such a visit, particularly as the High Commissioner and the Governor know each other well. No doubt you will let us know if you wish us to issue a formal invitation.
DR Snoxell
cc: P Morgan Esq, UND, FCO
PS:
AKGD, "FCO
SEAD, .FCO
British Embassy, PEKING
We now pass your fortnightly statistics on refugees to UNHCR.
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