UNCLASSIFIED
STATE 247418/01
ACTION: FOL-7 INFO: AMB DCM PAO POL/L. POLAD-2 ECON-6 SCI FIN
DAC SIO A/CORNS CCA /25
VZCZCLAC339EHU3%
00 RUFHLD
DE RUEHC #7418/01 2191348 ZNR UUUUU ZZE
O R 071348Z AUG 86
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUFHLD/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE S133 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE INFO RUFHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7404
BT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 247418
FOR REFUGEE OFFICER
078
AVe 86
46729 Chie. STA
DIST: POL
TOR: 13:5′
E.0. 12365:
N/A
TAGS: PREF
SUBJECT: BRITISH CONCERNS OVER REFUGEE ISSUES:
VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG, LAO SCREENING, KHMER BORDER POPULATION.
REF: A) LONDON 14536, B) HONG KONG 11447, C) HONG KONG 12043, D) STATE 22204
1. REFTEL A PAISED SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO REFUGEE PROCESSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, PARTICULARLY FONG KONG. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MAY BE HELPFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH TEF FCO...
2. THE RAY PANEL EXAMINED SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE LONG-STAYERS IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE
་་
CLOSED CAMP POLICY, LOCAL RESETTLEMENT, THIPD-COUNTRY RESETTLEMENT, AND VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
3. INTERGOVERNMENTAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE CUFRENT REFUGEE PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WERE HELD IN GENEVA ON JUNE 12 WITH AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE U.S. AND THE UNHCR PARTICIPATING. REFTEL D, WHICH HAS BEEN REFEATED TO LONDON, SUMMARIZES THE DISCUSSION AND DESCRIBES A
CONSENSUS THAT IS FORMING ON A POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE ACTION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
4.
PARA 6 OF REFTEL A RAISED THE QUESTION OF REPATRIATION OF LAC REFUGEES. THE LAO SCREENING PROGRAM, INITIATED BY THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT AND THE UNHCR IN JULY 1985, IMPLICITLY RECOGNIZES THAT NOT ALL LAO SEEKING TO ENTER THAILAND ARE REFUGEES UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL DEFINITION. THE LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC HEPUBLIC'S (LPDR) AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF THOSE SCREENED OUT (ALTHOUGH, TO DATE, THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED) AND THE WILLINGNESS OF THE RTG TO ACCEPT UNHCR MONITORING OF THE SCREENING PROCESS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO APPEAL LOCAL DECISIONS TO THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS, HAVE MADE IT POSSIPLE FOR THE USG AND OTHER NATIONS TO SUPPORT THE LAC SCREENING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES THE POSSIELE INVOLUNTARY RETURN
*
UNCLASSIFIED
STATE 247418/1
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