CONFIDENTIAL
Sir D Watson Watson
PS/Lord Gorony Roberts. Tel to inque
sel 1014.
HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Sin d. Wah or hol
M.O'Keefe.
Flag A Flag B-
Flag
1. Although Hong Kong is several hundreds of miles away, there is a distinct possibility of refugees from the fighting in Vietnam arriving in the Colony by ship or air. No problem is expected in connection with non-Vietnamese nationals who will presumably be merely in transit en route to their countries of origin; but clearly there could be substantial difficulties for the Colony if any significant flow of Vietnamese refugees develops. We accordingly asked the Political Adviser in Hong Kong about contingency plans for dealing with the latter (our telegram no 248). Hong Kong telegram no 324 outlines the arrangements which Hong Kong are making for receiving such refugees (and possibly those from Khmer also although this is a less likely source) and Hong Kong telegram no 330 proposes a line for the Hong Kong Government Information Services to take should the need arise.
2. It is reassuring that the question has been so thoroughly considered in Hong Kong both from the practical and political standpoints, particularly in the context of illegal immigration from China. Hong Kong authorities have a clear perception of the embarrassment that would be caused if any genuine refugees were turned away; and equally of the social and political dangers for Hong Kong of permanently accepting any appreciable number of Vietnamese (or Khmer) refugees. In the circumstances there is little alternative but to keep refugees in transit accommodation until arrangements can be made for them to be
sent on to some country which is willing to receive them; doubtless there could be moral pressure on other countries to join Canada in helping to settle them should the need arise.
The
3. The plans in hand in Hong Kong therefore seem exactly right in the circumstances. So too is the guidance given to the Government Information Services as set out in Hong Kong telegram 330 provided that the phrase "genuine war refugees and political refugees" in sub-paragraph 1(C) is interpreted for the present as meaning that no refugee from the
/fighting
CONFIDENTIAL