HKD 24318
811
CONFIDENTIAL
это
073634 MDHIAN 3608
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2193
OF 14160OZ SEPTEMBER 88
INFO DESKBY HONG KONG 150200Z
254
OUR TELNO 19 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: IRAC VISIT
1. IRAC HAVE NOW COME BACK YET AGAIN WITH A LETTER TO ME DATED
9 SEPTEMBER WHICH THANKS US FOR OUR CO-OPERATION IN AGREEING TO
A VISIT TO THE HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE AND REITERATES
TWO FURTHER REQUESTS FROM THEIR EARLIER LETTERS:
(I)
TO VISIT ALL DETENTION CENTRES
(II) TO OBSERVE THE SCREENING PROCESS.
IRAC BASE THEIR CASE FOR ATTENDING THE SCREENING INTERVIEWS ON
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
APPLY TO THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER A VIETNAMESE QUALIFIES AS
A REFUGEE. THE LETTER CONTINUES QUOTE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES
PRESENT HERE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT
TO A FAIR AND PUBLIC HEARING IN DETERMINING THE RIGHT OF ASYLUM
IRAC'S PURPOSE IN OBSERVING THE SCREENING INTERVIEWS IS TO
EVALUATE WHETHER THE PROCEDURES PRESERVE THE ASYLUM RIGHTS OF THE VIETNAMESE WHICH MAY BE OF GENERAL ACCEPTANCE UNQUOTE. IRAC
UNDERTAKE THAT ATTENDANCE AT SCREENING INTERVIEWS WOULD BE
ON THE BASIS THAT QUOTE PRIVATE MATTERS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
APPLICANTS UNQUOTE WOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT THE
INFORMED CONSENT OF THE APPLICANT SHOULD BE GIVEN.
I
·
2. GRATEFUL FOR GUIDANCE ON THE LINE WE SHOULD TAKE IN REPLY.
IRAC HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVE IN MOBILISING
CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT IN THEIR FAVOUR CA TOTAL OF 11 CONGRESSMEN
HAVE SO FAR WRITTEN IN SUPPORT OF THEIR PROPOSALS) IF IT WAS
POSSIBLE TO ARRANGE FOR VISITS TO OTHER DETENTION CENTRES IN
ADDITION TO HEI LING CHAU THIS WOULD DISPOSE OF THE ISSUE OF
ACCESS. WE RECOGNISE THAT THE REQUEST TO ATTEND SCREENING
INTERVIEWS RAISES DIFFERENT ISSUES IN THE CONTEXT OF HONG KONG'S
AGREEMENT WITH THE UNHCR ON THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED. 3. ONE APPROACH MIGHT BE FOR US TO RESPOND MERELY THAT WE HAD
PASSED IRAC'S POINTS ON TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WHO WILL DO
WHAT THEY CAN TO ARRANGE A PROGRAMME WHICH MEETS MS DILLER'S
REQUIREMENTS. HONG KONG MIGHT ALSO WISH US TO PUT DOWN A MARKER
ABOUT THE PROBLEMS RAISED BY THE REQUEST TO ATTEND SCREENING
INTERVIEWS: IF SO GRATEFUL FOR DRAFTING LANGUAGE ON THIS POINT.
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