TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 194

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

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4. WE ASKED UNHCR WHETHER A MEETING OF EXPERTS WAS NOW NECESSARY GIVEN VIETNAM'S UNDERTAKING TO STOP THE OUTFLOW. THEY REPLIED THAT ONE MUST ASSUME THE WORST AND EXPECT AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE TO CET PAST ANY VIETNAMESE EMIGRATION CONTROLS WHICH THEY WOULD PRESUMA ABLY DO IN VERY MAKE-SHIFT BOATS. MOREOVER, THEY NEED TO LOOK AHEAD TO WHEN THE MORATORIUM ENDS.

5. ON THE QUESTION OF ACTIVE RESCUE UNHCR SAY THAT FORMALLY THEY MUST SUPPORT ANY SUCH EFFORTS TO SAVE LIVES. HOWEVER, THEY ARE DISCREETLY ADVISING AGAINST UNDUE PUBLICITY FOR FEAR OF THE MAGNET EFFECT ON POTENTIAL BOAT PEOPLE. IN THIS CONTEXT THEY ARE WORRIED THAT THE VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCASTS CONCERNING VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE'S OFFER MAY ENTICE MORE PEOPLE OU TO SEA.

*

6. MOUSSALI WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CLARENCE (UK) OF HIS DIVISION, HOPES TO SEE UK OFFICIALS DURING HIS VISIT TO LONDON. HE ALSO HOPES WE CAN NOMINATE AN EXPERT FOR THE MEETING REFERRED TO ABOVE AND, IF POSSIBLE, SECOND SOMEONE FOR A

SHORT PERIOD TO ADVISE UNHCR ON THIS FIELD WITH WHICH THEY ARE NOT

AT ALL FAMILIAR.

PLEASE PASS ADVANCE COPIES TO:

P WOODFIELD, HOME OFFICE

R BROWN, SHIPPING POLICY DIVISION, DEPT OF TRADE

MOD

(Advanced As Reavested

MACINNES

FILES SEAD

HK & GD

NEWS D M & VD PS PS/LPS

MR FERGUSSON

MR FRETWELL

ADDITIONAL DISTN

BOAT PEOPLE

UND

FED

EESD

NAM D SAD

EID

PUSD

OID

IPD

+

PS/MR HURD ·

PS/ER BLAKER

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

SIR A PARSONS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON

LORD NG LENNOX

MR BULLARD

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