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152513 MDLIAN 8795
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CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 2
4318
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2994
OF 101015Z AUGUST 88
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
iono
632
O'BRIENS TELELETTER OF 6 AUGUST:
YOUR TELNO 2066+
PROPOSED IRAC STUDY VISIT
THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE HEARD OF THIS IRAC STUDY VISIT TO
HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE WE ARE
NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.
2. IRAC SHOULD UNDERSTAND IN ADVANCE THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE
WILL NOT BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE DETENTION CENTRES I.E. TO THOSE
PEOPLE AWAITING SCREENING AND THOSE SCREENED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
MS DILLER WILL NOT THEREFORE BE ABLE TO OBSERVE SCREENING INTERVIEWS.
IT SHOULD BE EXPLAINED TO THE IRAC THAT VBP'S WHO ARE SCREENED
AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE ALLOWED NO ACCESS TO ANY RESETTLEMENT
CHANNELS. THEY WILL BE HELD IN THE DETENTION CENTRES UNTIL REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM CAN BE ARRANGED. WE HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED PROTESTS IN ONE OF THESE CENTRES WHICH WAS TRIGGERED
BY REPORTS OF THE DISCUSSIONS IN HANOI. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
THE INEVITABLY WELL PUBLICISED VISIT TO HONG KONG OF THE IRAC WILL
TRIGGER FURTHER PROTEST ACTION. THE SITUATION WILL BE MORE
DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN IF WE ALLOW ACCESS TO THE DETENTION CENTRES
TO GROUPS LIKE THE IRAC WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ASSISTING WITH THE
RESETTLEMENT OF VBP'S.
3. WE WOULD BE CONTENT TO ARRANGE A PROGRAMME OF VISITS TO THE
CLOSED CENTRES FOR REFUGEES FOR MS DILLER AND WE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO READ THE FINAL REPORT. HOWEVER, WE SHARE WASHINGTON'S VIEW THAT THERE IS LITTLE TO BE GAINED BY THE AMBASSADOR ACCEPTING THE INVITATION TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE DRAFT PRIOR TO PUBLICATION, AND WE CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO BE IMPLICATED IN ITS CONCLUSIONS.
*
4. WE SUGGEST THAT WASHINGTON REPLY MAKING THESE POINTS AND
A SKING MS DILLER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR
ON ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG.
FORD
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