TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 213

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08 MAY 1985

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG:

1.

POLICY PAPER

HKD have sent us (copy below) the final version of their policy paper which is to be included with a submission to Ministers.

2.

The Department has taken account of almost all our comments on an earlier draft which H of C forwarded in his teleletter of 1 March (copy attached).

We had

3. HKD have not, however, followed exactly our suggestion on wording for paragraph 23, on the question of Hong Kong's introduction of a process to screen new arrivals. proposed (final sentence of paragraph 3 of H of C's teleletter) that references to informal comments by UNHCR officials, other than the High Commissioner, would only serve to confuse the issue. We had also suggested the following wording:-

"UNHCR would not, in UKMis Geneva's view, be prepared

simply to take part in such screening arrangements on a contingency basis."

The final version of paragraph 23 however has retained a reference to an informal comment by a UNHCR official and has toned down our words above to read:-

"UKMis Geneva are clear that Mr Hartling and other senior officials would be opposed to it, and that this is likely to be UNHCR policy."

In my view the phrase "likely to be" is less strong than the "would not be prepared

to take part ..." in our version.

Выдаш

B D Adams

23 April 1985

CONFIDENTIAL