CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2283
9% 14090OZ JUNE 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
CONFIDENTIAL
HUD 24318.
ниб
305
a DIST 7
134535
MDLIAN 5071
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNHCR RESPONSE : UKMIS GENEVA TELNOS 326
AND 331
1
588
UNHCR S RESPONSE IN FIRST TUR WAS ALSO CONVEYED TO REFUGEE
CORDINATOR BY LOCAL UNHCR CHARGE' DE MISSION YESTERDAY (13 JUNE).
2. UNHCR'S ATTITUDE IS PREDICTABLY EQUIVOCAL. THEY ARE CLEAR ON THE POINT THAT THOSE SCREENED OUT AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF UNHCR FOR ALL THOSE SCREENED IN AS REFUGEES.
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3. UNHCR'S ''UNDERSTANDING THAT LIBERALIZATION OF CONDITIONS (IN
EXISTING CLOSED CAMPS) WILL MEAN PROMPT RETURN TO THE CAMP SITUATION IN HONG KONG PRIOR TO JULY 1982'' (PARA. 10 OF FIRST TUR)
IS NOT (NOT) QUITE CORRECT. OUR REFERENCE TO ''OVER TIME IN PARA 1(G) OF OUR TELNO 2206 MEANT JUST THAT. IT WOULD BE NEITHER POSSIBLE NOR INDEED DESIRABLE TO CHANGE ALL EXISTING CAMPS FOR REFUGEES TO
OPEN CAMPS IMMEDIATELY. SOME OF THE CAMPS CANNOT BE OPENED UP IN SITU.
FURTHERMORE, AN IMMEDIATE OPENING OF CAMPS FOR REFUGEES WOULD CONFUSE THE DETERRENT MESSAGE WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS WHO MAY BE THINKING OF TRYING THEIR LUCK IN HONG KONG.
WE ENVISAGE A GRADUAL LIBERALISATION PROCESS TAKING 6 -12 MONTHS
TO COMPLETE. THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CLOSED
CAMPS FOR SOME YEARS THE TIME TO GET USE TO A MORE LIBERAL REGIME IN
WHICH THEY HAVE TO TAKE GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN LIVES.
4. UNHCR'S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND FOR EFFORTS TO OBTAIN THE AGREEMENT OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT FOR THE RETURN OF NON-REFUGEES TO VIETNAM UNDER SUITABLE
SAFEGUARDS IS OF COURSE WELCOME. BUT IT IS DISAPPOINTING IF NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED, THAT THEY ARE NOT SO FAR PREPARED SO SUPPORT PUBLICLY OUR CHANGE OF POLICY.
5. UNHCR'S REQUESTS THAT THE TERM・・ REFUGEE STATUS DETERMINATION PROCEDURE BE USED INSTEAD OF ''SCREENING'' (PARA 8) AND THAT ''THE CRITERIA DEVELOPED FOR ANY ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURE SHOULD
HUMANITARIAN AND FAMILY REUNIFICATIONS
INCORPORATE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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