;
RESTRICTED
MKD 24318
963
075021
MDHOAN 1273
}
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 3246
OF 161627Z DECEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, WASHINGTON
962
YOUR TELNO 4584: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
1 =
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
100 dOL
VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CHINESE ASSOCIATIONS, THE NATIONAL INDO CHINESE ASSOCIATION AND THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE NATIONAL COUNCIL CALLED ON LORD GLENARTHUR TODAY. THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY MALCOLM RODGERS, SECRETARY OF THE BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL ASIAN COMMITTEE, AND A VIETNAMESE WHO WORKS FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.
2.
THEIR CONCERNS WERE:
(A) THAT REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM SHOULD NOT PROCEED IN THE ABSENCE OF GUARANTEES OF GOOD TREATMENT ON RETURN:
(B) THE THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCES ON THIS COULD NOT BE TRUSTED:
(C) THAT QUOTE INTENTIONALLY HARSH CONDITIONS UNQUOTE IN THE CAMPS IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A DETERRENT MEASURE. THEY FELT THAT THOSE RETURNING VOLUNTARILY, AND THOSE FORCED TO RETURN, WOULD FACE HARSH CONDITIONS. THEY WERE DISTRESSED AT THE IDEA OF REPATRIATION, AND RECALLED THAT MANY HAD RISKED THEIR LIVES FLEEING FROM VIETNAM. INTERESTINGLY, THEY TOOK IT FOR GRANTED THAT ALL (ALL) NON-REFUGEES WOULD BE SENT BACK.
3.
LORD GLENARTHUR STRESSED THAT THE FUTURE FOR NON-REFUGEES LAY IN VIETNAM. WE WERE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS WERE PUT INTO PLACE TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO RETURN. WE HAD RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE THAT RETURNEES WOULD BE WELL TREATED AND COULD BE MONITORED BY UNHCR. IT WOULD NOT BE IN VIETNAM'S INTEREST TO RENEGE ON THESE ASSURANCES. ON CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS, LORD GLENARTHUR SAID THAT THESE WERE AS GOOD AS THEY WOULD BE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD DONE THEIR BEST, AND THIS WAS ACCEPTED BY THE BOAT PEOPLE HE HAD SPOKEN WITH IN THE CAMPS.
4. WE WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF THE RECORD OF THE MEETING BY FACSIMILE.
HOWE
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