CONFIDENTIAL
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024160
MDHIAN 6088
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE
TELNO 370
F CO
OF 051615Z JULY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 179: VIETNAMESE BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:
SUMMARY
423
1. NO CRITICISM AT INFORMAL
EXCOM OF CHANGE IN HONG KONG POLICY. UNHCR ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS DETAILS WITH HONG KONG AUTHORITIES.
DETAIL
2. AT INFORMAL EXCOM ON 30 JUNE, WE EXPLAINED NEW POLICY ON VIETNAMESE BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG (COPY OF STATEMENT FAXED TO DEPARTMENT).
3. OUR STATEMENT WAS WELL RECEIVED. THERE WAS NO CRITICISM OF OUR CHANGE IN POLICY FROM EXCOM MEMBERS. AUSTRALIA AND THE AMERICANS, IN HELPFUL STATEMENTS (ALSO FAXED TO DEPARTMENT) REFERRED TO NEED FOR DETERRENCE. AUSTRALIA COMMENTED THAT RECENT DECISION OF UK AND HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WAS A ''SIGNIFICANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-RESETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDO-CHINESE, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT-PEOPLE'' IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT UNHCR SHOULD INVOLVE ITSELF IN SCREENING PROCEDURE AND PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER SIMILAR REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE HANDLING OF THE SCREENED-OUT.
4. IN RESPONSE TO INTERVENTIONS FROM THE FLOOR, VIEIRA DE MELLO, HEAD OF UNHCR ASIA BUREAU, REFERRED TO UNHCR'S CONCERN OVER TIMING
OF INTRODUCTION OF POLICY AND RISK OF UPSETTING REGIONAL APPROACH. UNCHR WOULD ASSOCIATE ITSELF WITH THE HONG KONG SCREENING PROCEDURE IF CLARIFICATIONS COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES ON CRITERIA, ACCOMMODATION OF REFUGEES AND FATE OF THE SCREENED-OUT.
5. IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH ASIA BUREAU ON 4 JULY WE ENCOURAGED BAYANDOR TO PERSUADE HOCKE (WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN BRIEFED
IN DETAIL ON OUTCOME OF LONDON MEETING) TO TAKE UP INVITATION TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF CONCERN WITH HONG KONG AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG. THROUGH ASSOCIATION WITH MONITORING OF SCREENING PROCESS, UNHCR COULD CLARIFY PARTICULAR POINTS IN APPLICATION OF UNHCR GUIDELINES,
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