APORVED IN
RAIS TRY:No. 51
19 AUG 1975
HIKK 25
PL O'Keeffe Esq CVO
CONFIDENTIAL'
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office
BRITISH EMBASSY
THE HAGUE
12 August 1975
And Dually
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Ded Laworce,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
Prz
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KET.
I have just seen a copy of Drace-Francis' letter
SCR 1/4821/75 of 6 August.
2.
I understand why Hong Kong are anxious that as many countries as possible should take their share of these refugees. But I think I should point out that we have already raised this question twice with the Foreign Ministry here (The Hague telegrams numbers 139 Saving and 180 Saving). Each time we have been given a pretty dusty answer.
237
3.
The Netherlands Government have traditionally pursued a fairly restrictive policy towards immigration. Moreover, in recent years they have had perforce to absorb large numbers of immigrants from their own overseas territories, above all from Surinam. This has left them with the feeling that they have even less room for immigrants than before. To make matters worse these minorities, in particular the Surinamers and South Moluccans, are now causing a lot of trouble. The Dutch are consequently more reluctant than ever to contemplate adding to their burden by taking Vietnamese refugees. Hence their present restrictive line that only those refugees who have links with the Netherlands can be accepted for re-settlement here.
4.
The Netherlands Government are not going to be easily shifted from this position. Another approach at working level would serve little purpose. Even a high level request, which we should certainly not recommend, might not work the trick. As seen from here, therefore, it might be best to let the matter rest.
Yours
David
ci s Drace-Francis Esq Deputy Political Adviser, Hong Kong
D J Moss
P.S. How dont
dont coming The Hague?
CONFIDENTIAL
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