CODE 18-77
Reference
UNS 243/10
178
SEPARATE COPIES:
Mr Segar/Mr Hope
Miss Walker
Mr R W Sindon
Miss Wilmshurst
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 JUN 1983
DESK OFFICER
(SEAD INDEX
(HKD)
(MAED)
PA
(Legal Advisers)
R&R 243/2
on 17/6
REGISTA:
Action Tanen
Mr N Montgomery-Pott (Immigration & Nationality Dept, HO,
Mr R W Kyles
Lunar House, Croydon)
UKMis Geneva (for information)
UNHCR SCHEME FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE RESCUES AT SEA
1.
I refer to Mr Kyle's (Geneva) letters of 19 May and 10 June (copied to you) about the UNHCR Memorandum on Rescues at Sea Resettlement Offers (RASRO). I hope to coordinate a view for UK Mission Geneva to convey to UNHCR for further discussion.
2.
In response to his earlier letter, the following comments were relayed to Mr Kyles:
a) The Home Office
Current policy towards Vietnamese refugees is outlined in the Home Secretary's letter of 20 February to the Secretary of State, accepting only family reunions and rescues at sea by UK-registered ships. No change is contemplated for the time being.
b)
SEAD
Agreed that a quota system might give a better idea of the numbers of refugees involved and allow for a more orderly system of arrivals in flag states. It would also lessen the emergency situation faced by first port-of-call countries.
c) Hong Kong Government Office
(in their letter of 26 May
to Miss Walker, copied to all) saw no advantage or improve- ment over the present system. Hong Kong's principal objections would be
i) Boat rescues were likely to stay longer in Hong Kong
and other first ports-of-call, and a greater cost would fall on Hong Kong (although this is disputed by UNHCR, they do envisage the possibility of financial contributions to facilitate resettlement in third countries (paragraph 6c).
ii)
The timely removal of refugees is unlikely (the sentiments of international cooperation are worthy but it remains to be seen how the scheme would work in practice).
/iii)
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.