TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 65

From Secretary for Security

5-95474

SRD 903/19

Ref.......

..in.

Tel. No.

19 June 1985

Date

MEMO

To

No Walk

See Distribution Below

Your Ref.....................

dated

Visit by Mr Poul Hartling

pa 24315

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Sunday 12 - Tuesday 14 May 1985

(249)

О

Please find enclosed at Annex A a programme covering the recent visit of the High Commissioner for Refugees to Hong Kong.

2.

At Annex B is a summary of press coverage and comment on the High Commissioner's visit. This covers publications on 14 and 15 May 1985.

At Annex C is a transcri of the Press Conference given by Mr Hartling on 14 May 1985.

3.

4.

As you will see, despite considerabic pressure, the High Commissioner did not criticise conditions in the closed centres. He pointed out that his concern was that countries in the region should continue to grant first asylum to refugees. This Hong Kong had done and he was grateful. He pointed out that there were closed centres in all countries in the region and those in Hong ku. J were much better than in other places.

5.

Although not covered publicly, the High Commissioner confirmed that the manner in which countries identified refugees was a matter for them. He was concerned that genuine refugees were granted asylum and provided that this was done their procedures, and in particular screening, wase a matter

for countries themselves. He was also particularly concerned about the refugees who had been in Hong Kong for some time. Although conditions in Jubilee are being improved, the High Commissioner was still unhappy with the fact that refugees in open centres had been here for a minimum of 3 years. He was aware that many had been here for 5 years and some for as long as 7 years. At one stage he suggested that resettlement from the closed centres should be stopped in favour of the open centres. He realised however that this would be difficult, but said that it represented an indication of how strongly he felt about those who had been in Hong Kong for so long.

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RECEIVED H♥ MEGISTRY

28 JUN 1785

DESK OFFIC

INDEX

wondoluy

(K. J. Woodhouse)

NECISTRY

Pa

ction Taken

ノ

مله

for Secretary for Security

Distribution: HKGO Overseas: London (Attn: Mr C. H. Haye)

Brussels (Attn: Jones)

G.F. 73A

New York (Attn: Dorward)

Washington (Attn: Lo)

Geneva (Attn: Cartland)

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (Attn: Mr Clinton Leeks), UKMIS Geneva (Attn: Mr Brian Adams)