1
HKCK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 AUG 1933
DESK OFFICEA
PA
(94)
GPS 320
CONFIDEN MAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA 271341Z JUL 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 314 OF 27 JULY 1983
INDEX
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON, PARIS, CANBERRA, TOKYO, OTTAWA,
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, BANGKOK
193
MY TEL 308: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
>
dan wether
1. AS A FOLLOW UP TO MY CALL ON 20 JULY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
SENT THE HEAD OF UNHCR RESETTLEMENT SECTION TO SEE ME TODAY
(27 JULY).
2.
FELDMAN EXPLAINED THE CURRENT POSITION ON THE QUESTION OF
RESETTLING VIETNEMESE REFUGEES (FULL RECORD OF MEETING BY
BAG) AND CONFIRMED HARTLING'S VIEW THAT AN APPROACH TO VIETNAM
FOR WATERTIGHT ASSURANCES OR A STATEMENT CONFIRMING THAT
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARE MANDATORY REFUGEES, WOULD BE
INAPPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. HE WAS EVEN LESS OPTIMISTIC
THAN HARTLING OVER THE FUTURE PROGRESS BUT DID SAY THAT THE INCREASED NUMBER OF DEPARTURES UNDER THE ODP (APPROACHING 2000 A MONTH) AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL CASES OF REPATRIATION
WERE HOPEFUL SIGNS. THE VIETNAMESE WOULD BE IN GENEVA AGAIN
IN OCTOBER AND REPATRIATION WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA FOR
UNHCR'S TALKS WITH THEM.
ра
jakun
AM
3. IN RESPONSE TO A FURTHER AIRING OF HONG KONG'S DIFFICULTIES,
FELDMAN SAID HE HAD RECENTLY PRESENTED A REPORT ON THE
LATEST UNHCR EVALUATION OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT NEEDS IN
WASHINGTON AND OTTAWA AS A PREPARATION FOR THE HONOLULU
REFUGEE CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK. HIS PAPER INCLUDEDD A
PARAGRAPH ON HONG KONG CALLING FOR A PARTICULAR EFFORT
TO BE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE REFUGEES THERE. HE HAD ALSO
STRESSED THIS ISSUE IN CONVERSATION WITH OFFICIALS.
| IMAGINE THAT YOU WILL HAVE CONSIDERED HOW BEST TO
ENSURE THAT THE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG IS
BEFORE THE HONOLULU CONFERENCE. WE URGED FELDMAN THIS MORNING
TO MAKE THE POINT TO THOSE GOING FROM THE UNHCR (WHETHER AS
PARTICIPANTS OR OBSERVERS IS NOT YET CLEAR). SMYSER HIMSELF IS, HOWEVER, ALREADY IN WASHINGTON. MOREOVER, FELDMAN ANTICIPATED
THAT THE US INTEREST WILL BE ESSENTIALLY POLITICAL AND
THEREFORE CONCENTRATED ON COUNTRIES OTHER THAN HONG KONG.
WARBURTON
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMINDED
SEAD
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UND
FED
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NEWS D
MAED PS
PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE PS/PUS
MR WRIGHT
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR ADAMS
MR URE
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