CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 399
OF 02043OZ FEBRUARY 90
CONFIDENTIAL
6
076454
MDHIAN 4937
HKB
243 115
RECEIVE
22 FEB 1990
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INDEX
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI
A
YOUR TELNO 276: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
1. THE UNHCR HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY WILL BE READY TO FORM THEIR COMMITTEE DURING FEBRUARY AND THAT THEY HAVE APPOINTED
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES (A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION) TO BE THEIR EXECUTIVE AGENT. THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT BEGAN THEIR PREPARATORY WORK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THE WORK OF REFERRING CASES TO THE COMMITTEE CAN START AS SOON AS IT IS FORMED.
2. MCNAMARA IS CORRECT IN THAT THE MAIN OUTSTANDING ISSUE IS THE LOCAL UNHCR'S RELUCTANCE TO RETURN THESE CHILDREN TO THEIR PARENTS IN VIETNAM. WE AND THEY ESTIMATE THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND REPATRIATION IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES. MCNAMARA'S ACCEPTANCE OF OUR PROPOSAL THAT SUCH CHILDREN BE RETURNED ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION FLIGHTS IS ENCOURAGING. IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO ASK UKMIS GENEVA TO TAKE UP THIS POINT WITH VIERA' DE MELLO IN ORDER TO BUILD ON MCNAMARA'S HELPFUL COMMENTS.
3. ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS VARY FROM 1000 5000 DEPENDING ON THE DEFINITION OF QUOTE A MINOR UNQUOTE AND QUOTE UNACCOMPANIED UNQUOTE. THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ESTIMATE THAT THE NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ON A TIGHT DEFINITION IS IN THE RANGE 1000 1500. UNHCR THINK THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT BE ASKED TO CONSIDER UP TO 5000 CASES.
4. WE HAVE EXPLAINED IN PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT THERE ARE UNLIKELY TO BE MANY ORPHANS WITHIN THE UNACCOMPANIED MINOR GROUP. MOST SEEM TO HAVE PARENTS IN VIETNAM OR IN THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. THOSE THAT DO NOT TEND TO HAVE BEEN ABSORBED INTO OTHER FAMILY GROUPS, USUALLY RELATIVES. THE UNHCR SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE CONFIRMED OUR ASSESSMENT THAT THERE ARE UNLIKELY TO BE MANY CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR OVERSEAS ADOPTION. ONCE THE COMMITTEE STARTS ITS WORK WE WILL GET A CLEARER PICTURE.
WILSON
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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