CONFIDENTIAL
014565
MDHOAN 9553
AMENDED. THIS WAS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE: THE WORDING COULD BE INTERPRETED AS DENIAL OF THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO REFUGEES. BY CONTRAST, UNHCR WERE NOT CONCERNED IN THE SAME WAY ABOUT NOTICES ACCOMPANYING LETTERS SENT BACK TO VIETNAM. IN RESPONSE, PAUL OBSERVED THAT IN SPITE OF UNHCR'S CONCERN ABOUT THE WORDING OF THE ARRIVAL NOTICE, NOT ONE ARRIVAL HAD SO FAR ELECTED TO CONTINUE HIS JOURNEY. ALL HAD CHOSEN TO ENTER HONG KONG: ALL HAD IN PRACTICE BEEN GIVEN SAFE HAVEN IN HONG KONG. THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF A PUSH OFF POLICY. MOREOVER THE WORDING OF THE WARNING NOTICE HAD TO BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEED TO MAXIMISE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE NEW POLICY WHILE PRESERVING ITS HUMANITARIAN FEATURES, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE OF ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT FOR GENUINE REFUGEES.
8.
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BAYANDAR ASKED ABOUT CONDITIONS FOR THOSE SCREENED OUT AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES. PAUL SAID THAT CONDITIONS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE CLOSED CAMPS UNDER THE OLD POLICY: THE DETENTION CENTRES WOULD BE RUN BY THE CSD. THERE WOULD BE TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. FAMILIES WOULD NOT BE SPLIT UP.
9.
BAYANDAR ASKED ABOUT LIBERALISATION OF THE CAMPS ACCOMMODATING REFUGEES AWAITING RESETTLEMENT. PAUL SAID THAT THE INTENTION WAS TO LIBERALISE THE REGIME IN THESE CAMPS OVER A 6-12 MONTH PERIOD.
PRESSED FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PAUL EXPLAINED THAT UNHCR WOULD BE BETTER ADVISED TO ADDRESS SUCH QUESTIONS TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT: THIS FURTHER UNDERLINED THE DESIRABILITY OF DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN UNHCR AND THE HKG. 10. BAYANDAR SAID THAT UNLESS HMG COULD GIVE UNHCR SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE HKG WOULD MODIFY ITS POLICY ALONG THE LINES INDICATED,
HOCKE WOULD NOT AUTHORISE A VISIT BY UNHCR EXPERTS TO HONG KONG, PAUL SAID HE PERSONALLY THOUGHT THAT SUCH AN APPROACH WAS REGRETTABLE AND WOULD NOT SERVE UNHCR'S WIDER OBJECTIVES. HE SYMPATHISED WITH UNHCR'S DILEMMA, BUT ADVISED THEM NOT TO SHARPEN IT BY INSISTING ON UNREALISTIC PRECONDITIONS FOR THEIR COOPERATION WITH THE NEW POLICY. HE URGED A MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH. UNHCR HAD A MANDATE TO FULFIL: IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SIDELINES. HE REMINDED BAYANDAR THAT THERE WAS AN APPEALS PROCEDURE IN WHICH UNHCR COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE: SUCH A PROCEDURE SHOULD ALLOW SCOPE FOR SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS TO BE
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN CERTAIN CASES.
11. BAYANDOR EMPHASISED THAT, AS A HUMANITARIAN AGENCY, UNHCR COULD NOT ACCEPT THE NEW POLICY AS IT WAS. HE HOPED THAT WE COULD GIVEN THEM SOME REASSURANCE TNAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS. HOCKE ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THIS.
BOTH SIDES AGREED TO REFLECT
FURTHER.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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