TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 303

CODE 18-77

HK3AIQ

Miss Walker

UKMIS Geneva

Reference.....

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HKK 243/12

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

Thank you for your minute of 6 October, which we discussed briefly in Geneva during my visit. I think that several of the more difficult points in UNHCR's

in UNHCR's response to your speaking note were covered in our discussion and lunch with the UNHCR Resettlement Section on 8 October. But the following points might be worth making again:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

-

hence

-

UNHCR's point about putting Hong Kong's 1986 arrival rate in context is reasonable: but we might equally respond that Hong Kong's 1986 departure rate will also be exceptional

the concern expressed in para 1 of your note. (In passing, I note that UNHCR like the Canadians, you will recall from our talk with Mr Campbell have interpreted our approach as a further "resettlement pitch" for Hong Kong: we shall plainly have to do what we can to disabuse them that this is our sole intention (though it is one of them).)

-

UNHCR's explanation (para 4 of your minute) of the reasons for Hong Kong's arrivals surge this year is inadequate, as Mr Woodhouse explained to them at length in our meeting.

UNHCR's comment (para 5) on screening is not unhelpful as far as it goes.

But it would be helpful to draw them out a little further on realistic alternatives to resettlement if we can (though the Resettlement Section made plain to us that this could only be pursued at HC/DHC level).

On further UK offtake (para 6), UNHCR's point is important and we shall be pressing it on the Home Office in ensuing weeks.

Ι

Hocké will make this point more forcefully to HMG during his forthcoming visit.

assume

plainly are

M.

which

Mr Woodhouse usefully explored the local integration problem with Resettlement Section during our meeting. There

some wrinkles in the

programme need to be ironed out locally: but we and HKG must plainly give UNHCR no opportunity to query Hong Kong's bona fides in this programme. I think Mr Woodhouse will carry this message with him back to Hong Kong. Hopefully UNHCR will also now do more in Hong Kong to encourage those selected for local integration to make the right decision!

(£)

Re

8, I

are

para

suspect that

assertion UNHCR's

that North

Vietnamese

being resettled at a higher rate than southerners to be incorrect (it

is certainly highly

unlikely, but I have no figures):

figures) and since UNHCR regard

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