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CONFIDENTIAL
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HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
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Flag A 1. You will be interested in the letter of 6 September from
Mr Davies, the Secretary for Security in Hong Kong, reporting on the arrangements being made for the resettlement of the refugees from the "MV AVA" and two other vessels, who arrived in Hong Kong in early August.
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2. Given the strong hints from the Americans that they would probably accept most of the "Ava" refugees for resettlement if they were landed temporarily in Hong Kong, it is disappointing to learn, over a month later, that only six have so far left for the United States. It seems likely that the Americans will take another 52, but the Hong Kong authorities have had to concede the theoretical right of re-entry into Hong Kong by these refugees in order to meet American requirements. When the US Consulate- General raised this issue prior to the landing of the "Ava" refugees, we agreed with the Hong Kong authorities that it would not be reasonable to expect them to grant re-entry rights. The fact that Hong Kong has now decided to do so clearly improves the prospects of the Americans taking a considerable number of the refugees but it does show that things have not gone as smoothly as had been hoped.
3. You will note that Hong Kong may be left with 26 refugees from the latest batch, assuming the Americans, Canadians, Germans and French are able to take as many of them as is currently anticipated. When the "Ava" refugees were being landed, the Home Office told us that they would be prepared in principle to advise their Ministers to allow those refugees who were not resettled elsewhere to come to this country, assuming they wished to do so. In the meantime, the UNHCR has produced a fresh scheme for the handling of Indo-Chinese refugees picked up at sea and the Home Office have recommended to their Ministers that the UK should be prepared to offer places for 100 persons under this scheme. If and when this recommendation is accepted, we and UN Department propose to suggest to the Home Office that any refugees from the "Ava" still left in Hong Kong and willing to come to the UK should be regarded as having a good claim for admission.
4. As a result of the delay over resettlement of this group of refugees which has now occurred, I think we must expect Hong Kong to adopt a reluctant attitude towards granting transit rights in future similar circumstances.
14 September 1976
F.e.B. Seant.
JAB Stewart Vong Kong Department
cc:
Mr Simons (SEAD Mr Morgan (UND)
}
with copy of
Mr Davies' letter
CONFIDENTIAL