TNAG-1527-FCO40-2091-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 251

ZCZC

LNV N 4695 OCMIAN 7004

CODENTIAL

TT WASHI

FM FCOLN TO GEMIS

161125Z OCT GRS 375

CONFIDENTIAL

Ente

FA 5124313 RECEIVED IN REGIO// 05 FEB 1986 A

BESK OFFICER.

INDEX.

TO TELELETTER UKMIS GENEVA

FM FCO

TELELETTER

OF 161125Z OCTOBER 85

PA

Action Taken

710

MK

KJ21110

Mr. Santy, 7 Tp

MAED

50

13

Information Fest. (parn 2-3)

AND TO TELELETTER BANGKOK, HONG KONG, HANOI, WASHINGTON, PARIS

FOR B D ADAMS ESQ

Can

4

Somit Jest pan ECDCE ECD (E) (~ Mr. Seller, O7A (m5)

COPIES TO PL BEANA ESQ S SIT ESQ SECURITY BRANCH, M J. H WOOD ESQL S J GOMERSALL ESQ, G H FRY ESQ VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1. ON 14 OCTOBER OLIVIA WALKER, GORDON SIMPSON AND DISCUSSED SHIP RESCUE AND OTHER REFUGEE MATTERS WITH MR ALAN VAN EGMOND OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU FOR REFUGEE PROGRAMS. THE AMERICANS ARE GENERALLY SATISIFED WITH THE WAY RASRO HIS FUNCTIONING. THEY ARE CONCERNED THOUGH AT THE LACK OF A TRANSIT CENTRE FOR OVERSTAYERS' HE REFUGEES NOT TAKEN UP BY A RASRO MEMBER STATE WITHIN 90 DAYS. THE PHILIPPINES WERE NOT PREPARED TO OFFER PALAWAN FOR THIS PURPOSE. VAN EGMOND SAID THAT UNHCR HAD SUGGESTED THAT HONG KONG MIGHT OFFER SUCH FACILITIES. 2. VAN EGMOND SPOKE OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRENCH MERCY SHIP, THE COMMANDANT CHARCOT, ESCORTED BY A FRENCH NAVAL CORVETTE, OFF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE COAST DURING MAY UNHCR HAD INTERVIEWED

REFUGEES PICKED UP BY THE CHARCOT. MANY OF WHOM SAID THEY HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE VIETNAM BY BOAT BY BBC VIETNAMESE SERVICE BROADCASTS REFERRING TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CHARCOT.

3. IF SUBSTANTIATED THIS

IS SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO PURSUE WITH BUSH HOUSE. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CHECK VAN EGMOND'S STORY WITH UNHCR.

I ASKED VAN EGMOND ABOUT THE FATE OF THE VIETNAMESE PICKED UP BY THE POISK. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS QUESTION HAD BEEN RASED WITH THE VIETNAMESE REPRESENTATIVE AT A RECENT UNCHR MEETING ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION HELD IN SAN REMO, ITALY. GRATEFUL TO SEE ANY REPORTS YOU MAY OBTAIN ABOUT THIS MEETING, WHICH IS NEWS TO ME. VAN EGMOND MENTIONED THAT IN AUGUST THERE HAD BEEN A SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING A SOVIET MERCHANT SHIP ALONG THE LINES OF THE POISK INCIDENT: HE HAS PROMISED TO PROVIDE DETAILS.

5. VAN EGMOND EXPRESSED US GRATITUDE FOR BRITAIN'S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE THAI ANTI-PIRACY PROGRAMME: AND CONCERN FOR FRANCE'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAMME. I TOLD HIM THAT, DESPITE THE PROGRAMME'S SHORTCOMINGS, WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE CONTINUING FALL IN THE RATE OF ATTACKS ON BOATS ARRIVING IN THAILAND AND THE APPARENT READINESS OF THE THAIS TO PROSECUTE.

SIGNED S T NASH

the

21/10