TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 260

GPS 103

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKIS GENEVA 121633Z JULY

IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 382 OF 12 JULY 1979

(357

HKK243

TFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, INFO ROUTINE PONG KONG GOVERMENT OFFICE LONDON.

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IPA

HONG KONG TELNO 985

360

1. WE HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROVISO AT THE END OF THIS

•

DRAFT PASSAGE THAT QUOTE THE UNHCR WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY see:

FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND RESETTLEMENT OF ALL OTHER

1365A1

INDO CHINESE REFUGEES WHO ARE IN WHO COME TO HONG KONG UNQUOTE. FOR REASONS EXPLAINED IN UK..IS GENEVA TELNO 186 TO FCO OF 8 JUNE IT IS NOT UNHCR'S PRACTICE TO UNDERTAKE COMMITMENTS FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE OPEN-ENDED. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FINANCE AND WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO OBTAL THE APPROVAL OF THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. COULD THE SENTENCE PERHAPS END QUOTE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TIE RESETTLEMENT OF ALL OTHER INDO CHINESE REFUGEES WHO ARE IN OR WIO COME TO HONG KONG AND DEVOTE ALL POSSIBLE RESOURCES TOWARDS THEIR MAINTENANCE UNQUOTE ?

2. WE SUGGEST FIRST SENTENCE MIGHT BEGIN QUOTE UNHCR HAS SLEGESTED IN CONFIDENCE UN UOTE

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3. WITH REFERENCE TO PONG KONG'S NIPT WE WONDER WHETHER THE ASEAN COUNTRIES CULD 'ACTUALLY PUBLISH A REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RESETTLEMENT. SINCE THIS IS THEIR PRESENT POLICY AS ENUNCIATED BY SOME OF THEM AT UNHCR'S CONSULTATIONS LAST DECEMBER THEY PROBABLY SEE NO NEED TO MAKE A FORMAL STATEMENT BEFORE THE

CONFERENCE. MALINNES

FILES

SEAD

HK & GD

UND

FED

EESD

N AM D

SAD

EID

PUSD OID

IPD

NEWS D M & VD PS

PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/LR BLAKER PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS MK CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON

LORD N.G – LENNOX

ADDITIONAL DISTN

BOAT PEOPLE

CONFIDENTIAL

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