ния 2434
CONFIDENTIAL
988
134024
MDHIAN 3340
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 14170OZ FCO
TELNO 333
OF 141526Z JUNE
INFO DESKBY 15010OZ HONG KONG,
-305
TOP COPY
CC Q DIST ?
HONG KONG TELNO TO FCO 2283: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: UNHCR RESPONSE
SUMMARY
1. UNHCR ASK ABOUT WARNING NOTICE TO BOAT-PEOPLE ON ARRIVAL, TIMESCALE FOR LIBERALISATION OF CLOSED CAMPS AND REFUGEE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. WOULD WELCOME EARLY UK REPONSE IN ADVANCE OF MEDIA QUESTIONING ON 16 JUNE.
DETAIL
2. UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG HAS INFORMED HEAD OFFICE HERE ABOUT WARNING NOTICE TO BE GIVEN TO BOAT-PEOPLE ARRIVALS FROM 16 JUNE (PARA 3 OF HONG KONG TELNO 2159). UNHCR INTERPRET REFERENCE то
PROSPECTIVE DETENTION AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS'' AS TANTAMOUNT TO INTERDICTION OR PUSHING OFF. UNHCR EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT NOTICE AND ARE LIKELY TO REFER TO IT (CRITICALLY) IF QUESTIONED BY MEDIA ON UNHCR ATTITUDE TO NEW HONG KONG POLICIES. WE REFUSED TO BE DRAWN BUT PROMISED TO REPORT UNHCR'S CONCERN TO YOU AND TO HONG KONG. AMERICANS LOCALLY HAVE ALSO RAISED THIS ISSUE AND EXPRESSED CONCERN. GIVEN UNHCR AND AMERICAN WISH TO MAINTAIN THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST ASYLUM IN THE REGION, WE HOPE IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO TONE DOWN THE WARNING NOTICE. THE MESSAGE, IN ANY CASE, WILL GET BACK TO VIETNAM
3
EVEN IF
I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HONG KONG REACITON IN TUR TO MY TELNO 331.
TO SECURE UNHCR UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG DIFFICULTIES, WE COULD SURELY REASSURE THEM THAT IS IS OUR INTENTION TO LIBERLISE CONDITIONS IN EXISTING CLOSED CAMPS ''AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THIS TAKES 6-12 MONTHS. SIMILARLY IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO MEET UNHCR'S SUGGESTION ON DESIGNATION OF THE SCREENING PROCESS, WE SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE IF POSSIBLE.
4. UNHCR ALSO ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO RESPOND TO THEIR OFFER OF TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ADVICE IN DEVELOPING APPROPIATE GUIDELINES (PARA 6 OF TUR). HERE ALSO, WE MIGHT BE MORE FLEXIBLE, WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE DETERRENT NATURE OF THE NEW POLICY. THOSE
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