RESTRICTED
713
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 2207
OF 301630Z AUGUST 88
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
HKD 243/8
31 AUG 1988
TOP COPY
DIST ?
ion Tamen
N
024640
MDHUAN 3220
705
1.
WASHINGTON TELNO 2077: PROPOSED IRAC STUDY VISIT TO HONG KONG
WE HAVE ASKED THE HOME OFFICE HOW THEY WOULD DEAL WITH A
SIMILAR REQUEST IN THE UK. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD
PERMIT ESTABLISHED NGO'S TO VISIT AREAS
IN WHICH THE HOME OFFICE ACCOMMODATE
·
ASYLUM SEEKERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ACCORDED REFUGEE
STATUS, AND TO MEET INDIVIDUALS HELD THERE. THEY JUDGE THAT THE POTENTIAL EMBARRASSMENT AND ADVERSE PUBLICITY THAT CAN BE
GENERATED BY REFUSALS OUTWEIGH THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE CRITICISM
THAT COULD RESULT FROM REPORTS OF VISITS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS. THEY WOULD ALSO AGREE TO OCCASIONAL REQUESTS, ON A SAMPLE BASIS, FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SUCH ORGANISATIONS TO SIT IN ON A SCREENING INTERVIEW PROVIDED THAT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WAS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE INTERVIEWEE AND THE INTERVIEWER.
2
·
IN THE CASE OF FOREIGN NGO'S, THE HOME OFFICE WOULD IN THE FIRST INSTANCE REFER THEM TO, SAY, THE BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL IN THE HOPE THAT THE LATTER WOULD SATISFY THEM CONCERNING RELEVANT
ARRANGEMENTS BUT THE HOME OFFICE DO NOT RULE OUT ACCEDING TO
SUCH REQUESTS FROM FOREIGN NGO'S
·
·
3. IT IS VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO JUDGE WHETER IRAC'S REQUEST FOR ACCESS SHOULD BE GRANTED. SEEN FROM HERE, THERE WOULD SEEM TO BE
SOME MERIT IN CONSIDERING THEIR REQUEST FAVOURABLY.
CHALKER
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
35
MINIMAL
HKD
UND
DISTRIBUTION
36
SEAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE
RESTRICTED
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.