TNAG-1791-FCO40-2551-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 81

CODE 18-77

Reference..........

Mr

Foot an

N5/4

Hong Kong Department

HUD 243/8

ния

8:

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

81

PA

1.

669

Hong Kong telno 1277 set out their thinking on new initiatives for dealing with the increasing flow of Vietnamese refugees arriving in Hong Kong.

2.

From UND's point of view, we can see no objection to their new proposals outlined in paragraph 1. However, it would be useful to indicate to Hong Kong that the screening process should be carried out under standard UNHCR guidelines.

3.

The office of the High Commissioner produced a booklet in September 1979 entitled Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status under the 1951 Convention. These procedures are closely followed by the Home Office and I assume that Hone Kong would also wish to adhere to them. It would also be extremely useful for the Hong Kong Government to obtain UNHCR's concurrence to any new policy before it is introduced.

Peter MileH

PJ MILLETT

United Nations Department

K 155

270-2497

8 April 1988

NO 7AFO