TNAG-1275-FCO40-1625-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 19

HKK 243/2.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 JUN 1963

DESK OFFICER

:

INDEX

REGATH

PA

tom Takun

Our Ref: VR/MISC

Miss Olivia Walker

Hong Kong

83

Government Office

香港政府駐英辦事處

() Mr. Hose Re

2) Pl. Copy D UND (Mr Peate)

MÃED (Mw Sindon).

don't. Mr Montsomery Bout

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HKD2.

King Charles Street

London SW1

Dear Olivia

UNHCR Memorandum

Immigr. + Nationality

beat, Hower nice

Lunar Hise Croydon)

27 June 1983/

On Rescue At Sea Resettlement Offers (RASRO)

pole

Thank you for copies of the correspondence between the UK Mission in Geneva and the FCO on this subject.

It is appreciated that you have put forward Hong Kong's views and we note that references had indeed been made to Hong Kong during the discussion on 30th May. However, it would appear from both paras 1 and 2 of Mr Kyles' letter that so far comments from the FCO have been made orally only. There is now, in Mr Moussalli's letter of 3 June, a specific request for comments from the Governments represented at the earlier "RASRO" meeting.

In the context of our strong and serious reservations about the proposed RASRO scheme, we must ask that Hong Kong's views be firmly put in writing to UNHCR through the UK Mission in Geneva. Moreover, I must stress that the amendment of para 6(b) of the UNHCR Memorandum is totally unacceptable to Hong Kong. The UNHCR attitude evidenced by such an amendment further underlines Hong Kong's fears and objections to the RASRO proposals.

We are grateful to you for keeping us in touch with developments. It would be very much appreciated if you would continue to copy relevant correspondence

to us.

Regards,

Yours murely

/ taby

"

Helen CP Lai YU

for Commissioner

HCPLY/jf

CC

: S for S (Mr Leeks) w/copy of UKM papers

FCO/SEAD (Mr CMJ Segar) w/o enc

6 Grafton Street London WIX 3LB

Telephone: 01-499 9821

Telex: 28404