TNAG-1971-FCO40-2804-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 108

104163

MDHIAN 8694

125

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

TELNO MISC 206

OF 310842Z MARCH 89

INFO IMMEDIATE

FCO

-(121)

CONFIDENTIAL

нко 24379

COPY Q DIST?

OUR TELNO 2027 YOUR TELNO 19

1241

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: REPATRIATION

1. THE TURS SEEM TO HAVE CROSSED. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE VISIT PLANNED FOR 3 APRIL WITH UNHCR AND NEITHER WE NOR THEY ARE IN POSITION TO ACCEPT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT. THE LIST OF NAMES CLEARED FOR RETURN ONLY REACHED UNHCR (HK) TWO DAYS AGO AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE VALIDATION INTERVIEWS IN

TIME.

2. WE SHALL HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS TO INTERVIEW THE VOLUNTEERS AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE REMEMBERED THAT WE SHALL BE ENGAGED IN THE UNHCR SCREENING SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK. IT WILL THEREFORE BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GIVE THE REPATRIATION ARRANGEMENTS THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE IF THE VISIT GOES AHEAD NEXT WEEK. WE, AND WE UNDERSTAND UNHCR, WOULD THEREFORE PREFER A POSTPONEMENT BY ONE WEEK.

3. WE WERE SURPRISED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE VISIT WERE CONCLUDED AND THE VISAS ISSUED WITHOUT CONSULTATION. THE LAST REPATRIATION EXERCISE WAS A MAJOR EVENT AND 3 DAYS NOTICE IS INSUFFICIENT TO PREPARE FOR SUCH A VISIT.

4. WE HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED BY UNHCR THAT A SECOND VIETNAMESE TEAM PLAN TO VISIT HONG KONG NEXT WEEK TO ATTEND THE SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING. WE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER VISAS HAVE BEEN

ISSUED TO THESE OFFICIALS.

WILSON

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL