TNAG-1527-FCO40-2091-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 227

Mr F. Karin

largo de Mission

United Nations High Commissioner

for Refugees

ANNEX A

12 December 1985

You may recall that we spoke on 11 Novembar 1905 about, inter alia, aa report from your colleagues in the Philippines about refugees who opted to continue their journey rather than romain in Hong Kong. You explained that some of these refugees, whom we term "voluntary departures" had arrived in the Philipuincs, where they had been found to have previously resided in China for some time after leaving Vietnam.

As you are aware, Victnamese of this type also land in Hong Kong. When they are determined by the Immigration Department to have lived in China for some time after leaving Vietnam they are classified as Ex-Ching cases and returned to China.

}

It seems to me that those Ex-China cases are aware that they will be returned to China if they land in Hong Kong and, therefore, they are continuing onto the Philippines in the hopa that they will.be resettled as refugees. I appreciate that this situation is of concern to your colleagues, but I feel sure that it would cease once thene Ex-China cases are returned to China. I news of their return from Hong Kong deters arrivals in Hong Kong, then the same will apply to their return from the Philippines.

By the UNHCR definition these Ex-China cases are not refugoes. They are illegal travellers who divert resources in Hong Kong, and elsewhere, from genuine refugees. I think that: st: is in everyone's interests to dcter Ex-China cosen because, ar. you are awaro,` there are over a quarter of a million Vietnamieso refugees resettled in China. An exodus of even one per cent of these could cause severe problems for other places of first asylum in the region.

I would be happy to discuss this matter further if you wish and would be grateful if you would continue to keep me informed,

.....

h

(K. J. Woodhouse)

for Secretary for Security