TNAG-1090-FCO40-1340-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-of-refugees-orig-1981 — Page 84

BY BAG

布政司署

香港下匯畢道

*RKE OUR REF.: CR 53/4821/79

* YOUR REF.:

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TCS Stitt Esq

SEAD

FCO.

see

+(10)

11

HICK

RECEIVER

DESK

INDEX

L.Th

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

7 March 1981

341/2

MONDAY NO.

17 MAR 1981 r Searle.

(MCER

PA

No MAS

RECISTRY Action Taken

25 | 163 26/3

果

2./3

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

(ExChina)

Because of a spell in hospital and pressure of work

I have only recently seen the very full notes which you did.

Both David Wilson on your familiarization tour in November. and I found these extremely useful and enlightening, particularly · those on the other places which you visited.

2.

We were, of course, delighted to have you here and are grateful that you accepted with such opod grace the ear-bashing from so many people on the subject of Vietnamese refugees.

3.

•

I am taking this opportunity to let you know that it looks, as if UNHCR have at long last come round to understanding and agreeing with our point of view on Vietnamese refugees who

This is come here illegally after being settled in China. largely due to the hard work of Sasha Cassella from the UNHCR headquarters and Jacques Mouchet the UNHCR representative in Peking. I enclose a copy of a story on the front page of today's South China Morning Post. It is not entirely accurate. Cassella did not talk to David Wilson, but had two meetings with me, Malcolm Chadderton in Immigration Department and John Hayward our new Deputy Secretary in Security Branch. The article is based on a 1 hour interview which Cassella deliberately gave the paper. We are pleased with the results and it should help you in replying to any letters you may get about refugees still in detention in Chi Ma Wan. There are a number of loose ends to be tied up between us and UNHCR locally and it would be best at present if David Snoxell did not raise the subject with the protection people but wait until Cassella's return when he

We also have to sort will no doubt contact the mission himself.

especially out some quicker procedures for return with the Chinese, since a further boatload of 28 arrived last month, the first since August last year. So far the signs are that this was an isolated opportunistic voyage made easier by relaxed travel arrangements in China over the Spring Festival period.

cc DR Snoxell Esq UKMIS Gva

RN Peirce [sq PEKING

P Morrice sq HK&GD FCO RP Margolis Esq PARIS

(I C Orr)