TNAG-0889-FCO40-1099-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 56

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CONFIDENTIAL

4. WE ACCEPTED (RELUCTANTLY) THAT THE UNDERTAKING WOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO ARRIVALS SUSPECTED OF SPENDING TIME IN CHINA UNTIL UNHCR HAD CONDUCTED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS GROUP. WE ALSO ACCEPTED THAT IN THE CASE OF CAMPS WE PROVIDE TO UNHCR, THE LOCAL OFFICE WOULD NEED INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE AGREEMENT COULD BE REACHED LOCALLY ON HOW THE COSTS OF SETTING THESE UP WOULD BE SHARED. HOWEVER, WE NOW SUSPECT THAT, IF RASANAYAGAM'S INTERPRETATION IS CORRECT, UNHCR MAY NOT BE WILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THOSE ALREADY IN CAMPS WHICH WE ARE READY TO HAND OVER TO UNHCR.

5. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, GRATEFUL IF UKMIS GENEVA WOULD SEEK URGENT CONFIRMATION FROM UNHCR THAT CARE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REFUGEES FROM THE DATE ON WHICH WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO LAND WITH THE EXCEPTION ONLY OF THE GROUP OF 6,000 (FOR WHOM THE DATE SHOULD BE FROM THEIR ACCEPTANCE BY UNHCR).

6. UNHCR MAY SUGGEST THAT CARE AND MAINTENANCE IS A SUBJECT WHICH WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSALS HARTLING HAS SAID HE WILL MAKE IN A FEW WEEKS (UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 173 TO YOU PARA 5). THE REPLY TO THIS MUST SURELY BE THAT UNTIL ANY NEW FROPOSALS ARE MADE THE PRESENT COMMITMENT STANDS. FURTHERMORE, KANAYAGAM TOLD US TODAY THAT UNHCR WILL MEET THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF THE 'SIBONGA'' REFUGEES FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THEY WERE LANDED

UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE.

2

CONFIDENTIAL

17.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.