TNAG-1543-FCO40-2107-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 125

PLAIN MODE

28404

28404

HKGOVT G

HKGOVT G

28404 HKGOVT G

MEMO-TELEX CH

28880 HKGV CH

ZSYNZ

(START CM)33

7 OCTOBER 1986

6772

GEK B BO KRBOSSVBIOQEĮTY

CONFIDENTIA, L

FROM KEN WOODHOUSE, IN GENEVA

COPIED TO : DELIA WALKER, UKMIS GENEVA

BEN TANG : HKG OFFICE LONDON (PLEASE PASS TO LEEKS AT FCO)

UNHCR EXCOM DISCUSSIONS WITH FINLAND

I MET ANTTI SEPPELA, COUNSELLOR IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS WHOM I TALKED TO LAST YEAR AND WHO THIS YEAR HEADED THE FINNISH MISSION WHICH VISITED HONG KONG AND TOOK 69 REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT. I THANKED HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF AND ASKED HOW THE REFUGEES WERE SETTLING IN.

2.

HE EXPLAINED THAT, ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS THE OPEN CENTRE REFUGEES WHO PRESENTED THE PROBLEMS. THEY WERE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY AND MORE USED TO THE QUOTE BRIGHT LIGHTS UNQUOTE) OF HONG KONG. THEY FOUND HELSINKI VERY QUIET.

3.

I

HE VOLUNTEERED THAT HE WOULD BE BRINGING ANOTHER MISSION TO HONG KONG IN SPRING NEXT YEAR. HE COULD NOT CONFIRM ANY NUMBERS BUT SEEMED TO BE QUITE FIRM ABOUT THE VISIT. THANKED HIM AND ASKED HIM TO LET US KNOW IF WE COULD BE OF ANY HELP IN PRE-SELECTION.

J

HE REMINDED ME THAT HE HAD TAKETA NUMBER OF SINGLE FEMALES FROM BOWRING EARLIER THIS YEAR AS QUOTE GIRLFRIENDS UNQUOTE FOR THE VIETNAMESE MALES ALREADY IN FINLAND. NOW THEY ALL HAD FINNISH BOYFRIENDS.

ENDS

JJJ

(END CM)

CONFIDENTIAL