TNAG-1275-FCO40-1625-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 113

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Agreed with UND

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& SEAD that it does not affect 243/1 submission of 2914. 78415

CONFIDENTIAL

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Does this

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(59

our Submission

4/5

GPS 320

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKMIS GENEVA 021135Z APR 33

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 184 OF 2 MAY 83

INFO HONG KONG

SAVING HANOI, WASHINGTON

HKK 243/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

05 MAY 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

HONG KONG TELNO 9: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

PA

↑

1. WE SPOKE IN SOME DETAIL AS REQUESTED TO FELDMAN, HEAD OF RESETTLEMENT SECTION AT UNHCR, ON 28 APRIL.

20

FELDMAN WAS NOT OPTIMISTIC. HE WAS GOING TO SINGAPORE AND CANBERRA IN MAY AND MEANT TO EXPLOIT THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE THE PROBLEM. THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER, SMYSER, WOULD PROBABLY VISIT SOUTH EAST ASIA IN THE AUTUMN. IT WAS HOWEVER DIFFICULT TO ELICIT HELPFUL RESPONSES IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL THE COUNTRIES UNHCR APPROACHED ASKED WHAT HMG WERE DOING. OUR OWN POLICIES DID NOT HELP UNHCR'S EFFORTS.

3. FELDMAN SAID THAT THE CANADIAN ATTITUDE WAS DISSAPOINTING. THEIR OPEN PROGRAMME WAS INHIBITED BY THE LARGE SUMS (10,000 DOLLARS) REQUIRED TO SPONSOR EACH REFUGEE.

4.. SPEAKING IN CONFIDENCE (PLEASEPROTECT) FELDMAN EXPRESSED CONCERN AT CURRENT AMERICAN POLICY. THE US WERE NOW CONSIDERING CLOSELY WHETHER THOSE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG WERE GENUINE REFUGEES OR ECONOMIC MIGRANTS. FELDMAN EMPHASISED THAT IN UNHCR'S VIEW ALL REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AT PRESENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS REFUGEES. ALL THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTED THAT ANY WISHING TO RETURN COULD NOT DO SO WITHOUT FACING PERSECUTION (OF THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES) FROM THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.

5. KYLES ASKED FOR DETAILS OF UNHCR'S CURRENT PLANS FOR SPECIFIC ACTION. WERE THEY APPROACHING THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM, AND OTHERS?

REGISTRY

Action Taken

AF STE

CONFIDENTIAL

/ FELDMAN

See St