CONFIDENTIAL
HUD 243/8 ния
351
147251
MDLIAN 6062
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2335
OF 17110OZ JUNE 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
C336
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNHCR RESPONSE AND PRESS STATEMENT: YOUR TELNOS 1548 AND 1555
1. WE HAVE SEEN THE UNHCR PRESS STATEMENT AND AGREE THAT IT IS
DISAPPOINTING. LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE HAS SPOKEN IN SIMILAR TERMS. HE IS ALSO REPORTED TODAY AS SAYING THAT ''THE NEW POLICY
IS NOT PROPER BECAUSE IT TREATS ALL VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS IN
HONG KONG AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BEFORE THEY ARE EXAMINED''.
2. THIS IS PARTICULARLY UNHELPFUL SINCE WE HAVE EXPLAINED FULLY THE REASONS FOR THIS PUBLIC LINE, AND ASSURED THE UNHCR THAT NO PUSH-OFFS WILL TAKE PLACE AND THAT INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION OF
REFUGEE STATUS WILL BE UNDERTAKIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR
CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES. MOREOVER WE HAVE MODIFIED THE WORDING
OF THE WARNING NOTICE IN RESPONSE TO THEIR EXPRESSED CONCERNS.
3. WE AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSED LINE TO TAKE IN RESPONSE TO PRESS
ENQUIRIES (PARA 4 OF SECOND TUR) IS AGREED. ON LIBERALISATION OF
CAMP CONDITIONS, WE HAVE SAID THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO LIBERALISE CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CAMPS GRADUALLY OVER TIME. WE HAVE REFERRED TO A TIME-FRAME OF 6-12 MONTHS FOR THIS PROCESS, STRESSING THAT THIS IS NECESSARY:
-
(A) SO AS NOT TO DILUTE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE NEW POLICY
BY LAYING IT OPEN TO MISINTERPRETATION AS AN AMNESTY:
(B) BECAUSE THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND LOCATION OF THE TEMPORARY
CLOSED CENTRES DO NOT PERMIT THEM TO BE OPENED UP IN SITU: AND
(C) BECAUSE MANY OF THE REFUGEES WILL NEED TIME AND HELP TO ADJUST
TO A LESS INSTITUTIONALISED ENVIRONMENT.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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