TNAG-0886-FCO40-1096-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 45

UNCLASSIFIED

In anmi (29/UN

Mi

4570

Amore in the ryul dvection

Mr Williamson, HK&GD

J28.5

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

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Reference...

Hkk 243

RECEIVED 13

31

DESK OFFICIN

INDEX

по

PA

19715

(771

1. Mr Jean Heidler (UNHCR representative in the UK) telephoned me this morning about the discrepancy in the figures for Viet- namese refugees in Hong Kong put out by the Hong Kong Government and by the UNHCR. He noted the Minister of State's remarks in the House of Commons on 17 May and added that the discrepancy in the figures could create some suspicion and be detrimental to all concerned.

2.

Mr Heidler said that his office had not been aware that the Hong Kong Government had already given permanent asylum to about 15000 Vietnamese refugees since 1975. He said he was going to suggest to his headquarters in Geneva that UNHCR personnel in Hong Kong should be instructed to get together with the Hong Kong authorities on a regular basis (every day if necessary) to agree on the figures which would be published so that there would be no such discrepancy in the future. I thanked Mr Heidler for his suggestion and said I would convey it to you and to the Hong Kong authorities.

24 May 1979

Mann

P Morgan

United Nations Department K 149 233 8631

CC:

DR Snoxell Esq, UKMis Geneva

I C Orr Esq, Government Secretariat,

Hong Kong

CODE 18-77

UNCLASSIFIED

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