CONFIDENTIAL
ass
056271 MDHIAN 5277
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 4548
OF 12120OZ DECEMBER 88
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
886
MK
мко 24318.
N
TOP COPY
Q DIST
OUR TELNO 3927: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: THE SCREENING
AND APPEAL PROCESS
WE REPORTED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR THAT UNHCR HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG TO PROVIDED LEGAL ADVICE TO THOSE SCREENED-OUT BOAT PEOPLE WHO WISH TO APPEAL. THE FIRST 25 CASES (INVOLVING 41 PERSONS) ANNOUNCED ON 24 OCTOBER 1988
ARE BEING PROCESSED.
2. MS SIDDALL, THE PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR OF THE LAW SOCIETY, INFORMED US THAT THE CO-ORDINATION WORK INVOLVED WAS MORE COMPLEX THÁN EXPECTED AND THAT SHE WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SECRETARIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT APPEALS ARE BEING PROCESSED ACCORDING TO THE TIME-FRAME ENVISAGED. SHE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATIONG WITH THE CHARGE DE MISSION OF UNHCR HONG KONG OFFICE FOR SUCH SUPPORT BUT WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE, MS SIDDALL HAS STOPPED PLACING FURTHER APPEAL CASES WITH THE LAWYERS ALTHOUGH SHE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE FIRST 25 CASES. IT APPEARS THAT
THE LEGAL ADVICE ELEMENT OF THE APPEAL PROCEDURE WILL BE SERIOUSLY
IN JEOPARDY UNLESS A SOLUTION TO HER PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND QUICKLY.
3. WE HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE UNHCR WORKING PARTY MEETING
IN KUALA LUMPUR LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH DENNIS MCNAMARA, LEGAL ADVISER, UNHCR HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA. HE WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE IN UNHCR'S INTERESTS IF THEY COULD RESOLVE THE DIFFICULTY QUICKLY. HOWEVER, MS SIDDALL TOLD US THIS MORNING THAT THE UNHCR HONG KONG OFFICE IS STILL REFUSING TO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
SHE REQUIRES.
4. WHILE THERE IS NO STATUTORY OBLIGATION FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED, OUR STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNHCR PROVIDES QUOTE UNHCR WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT LEGAL ADVICE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE WHO NEED IT UNQUOTE. CLEARLY IT WOULD BE
IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED TO ADHERE TO THIS AGREEMENT. WE HAVE AGREED EXCEPTIONALLY TO AN EXTENSION OF 14 DAYS (MAKING A TOTAL
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