TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 183

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243/1.

Mr Peate, UND

BRIEFS FOR UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 3-19 OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

1. Please refer to your minute of 15 September to Mr Segar, SEAD.

2. We have no comments on the draft brief. As you know Hong Kong's Deputy Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Williamson, will be attending the meeting, and will therefore be able to put across the Hong Kong Government's views.

Voluntary repatriation

3.

(Para 6 of your minute): From this Department's point of view, there are no political constraints in HMG supporting UNHCR's voluntary repatriation proposals, although we doubt that they are really applicable to Hong Kong. Few boat people in Hong Kong have yet shown interest in returning to Vietnam. Moreover the Hong Kong Government have found UNHCR slow in processing applications. Their views are set out in Mr Leek's letter of 24 August, of which I attach a copy. The EXCO meeting might provide an opportunity for raising the points made in the last paragraph of Mr Leeks's letter.

20 September 1983

Mr Segar SEAD

CONFIDENTIAL

оляма

O Walker

Hong Kong Department

I

НИИ... 243

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20 SEP 1983

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