GRS 285
RESTRICTED
FM STOCKHOLM
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 18
OF 241535Z JANUARY 86
RESTRICTED
AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO ROUTINE BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS PSE PASS TO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE FCO TELNO 6:UNHCR RESETTLEMENT MEETING
кк
LKK 243/
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
27 JAN1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REO STAY
PA
Action Taken
1. MEMBER OF CHANCERY DISCUSSED THIS WITH MARIE SJOLANDER. SHE SAID THAT THE SWEDES HAD REPEATEDLY EXPLAINED TO THE UNHCR BOTH HERE, IN HONG KONG AND IN GENEVA THAT SWEDISH GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTERING THEIR REFUGEE QUOTA MEANT THAT ANY REQUEST FROM UNHCR FOR SWEDEN TO ACCEPT REFUGEES HAD TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA TO THE SWEDISH MISSION THERE. THE SWEDES THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT THAT THE HEADQUARTERS KEPT A FIRM GRIP ON RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT SWEDEN (AND OTHER COUNTRIES) WERE NOT INUNDATED WITH UNCOORDINATED REQUESTS FOR HELP FROM LOCAL UNHCR
OFFICES.
2. THUS EVEN IF THE SWEDES HAD RECEIVED THE LIST OF 24 REFUGEES VIA THE IR CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, THEY WOULD NOT BE PREPARED TO ACT UNTIL IT HAD ALSO BEEN PASSED TO THEM IN GENEVA. IN FACT, THEY HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE LIST AND WE WILL PASS A COPY TO THEM - FOR INFORMATION - WHEN RECEIVED.
3. FOR SWEDISH ACTION, HOWEVER, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GET THE UNHCR IN GENEVA TO ACT. WE SUGGEST UKMIS GENEVA APPROACH UNHCR, AND ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THE LIST FROM THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG, GIVE IT FORMAL APPROVAL AND THEN PASS IT TO THE SWEDISH MISSION FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION TO SWEDEN. ACTION IN HONG KONG TO ENSURE LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE COPIED LIST TO
GENEVA MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL.
4. SJOLANDER SAID THAT THE SWEDES QUITE UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERN
AND, AS STATED IN GENEVA, WERE PREPARED TO HELP: BUT
THAT THEY WERE AMPATIENT WITH THE UNHCR FOR FAILING TO ACT ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES AGREED WITH THE SWEDES.
PARSONS
MINIMAL
HKD
SEAD
WED
UND.
COPIES TO:
HKEO LONDON,
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED
RESTRICTED
хо
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