TNAG-1539-FCO40-2103-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-ex-China-cases-1986 — Page 8

British Embassy Manila

K Woodhouse Esq

Government Secretariat

Hong Kong

Dearken

VIETNAMESE EX CHINA REFUGEES

سار

A Varta

Not clear true,

pl Rm wilt earlier Potters (ism Maryland HK

an" ex

China'

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Calla

D

Your reference

Our reference

Date

2611

13 June 1986

I've

2

prait! Cez 17/6

HKK 243/10.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 JUN 1936

CE

"

1.

I enclose a copy of a self explantory telex sent by the Manila UNHCR representative (Beyer) to his Head Quarters. and copied to just about any one who could conceivably be interested in the Diplomatic community in Manila.

2.

$

As you will see Beyer continues to try to wind up the Filipino Authorities to do something about his ex China Vietnamese refugees. While he pays for their food, he refuses to take any responsibility for the 55 who recently arrived; they remain in, Aparri in Northern Luzon. This group of refugees are regarded by Beyer as his best chance to persuade the Filipinos to do something.

3.

Of the three options set out by Beyer in his telex, number one according to which the Filipinos would abrogate their signature on the 1951 Convention and the 67 Protocol, close the two camps and prevent new refugees from landing is completely absurd. There is simply no chance that the Philippines Government would adopt such

4.

measures.

Option two, as I understand it, would involve the Filipinos taking on full responsibility for the ex China cases, interviewing them and where appropriate sending them back to China (UNHCR would merely pay for their food). This too strikes me as totally unrealistic. I see no reason why the Filipinos should want to get involved in this way.

5.

That leaves option 3, which Beyer, in a meeting of representatives from the US, FRG and Belgian Embassies (to which I was invited) described as the "Thai example". He asked his assembled audience whether or not their Governments would support the UNHCR if they continued to press for option 2, when everybody knew that they had not done so in the case of Thailand. None of his interlocuteurs showed much enthusiasm for this. I merely took note of what he said and offered no comment.

/6.

Beyer