CRS550
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKDY 13010OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
Fil FC o 121846Z JAN 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 042 OF 12 JANUARY.
HKK
243
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 120. 51
15 JAN1979
WISK OFFER INDEX
REGITRY
Action
en
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.
1. THE FOLLOWING P Q'S HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN FOR REPLY ON 16 AND 17
JANUARY RESPECTIVELY:-
MR JOHN LEE: TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT GUIDANCE
HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG REGARDING THE
RECEPTION OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: AND IF HE WILL MAKE A STATEMENT.
SIR NIGEL FISHER: TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE IF HE WILL
STATE HIS CRITERIA FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF REFUGEES
FROM VIETNAM WHO SEEK ENTRY INTO HONG KONG.
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING REPLY TO THE FIRST
QUESTION:-
''I AM IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNOR OVER THE PROBLEM
CF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM, THE GOVERNMENT FULLY SUPPORT THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT'S GENEROUS AND HUMANE ATTITUDE TOWARDS REFUGEES
AND DISPLACED PERSONS FROM VIETNAM. SINCE 1975, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE ASSISTED SOME 4,800 FORMER RESIDENTS OF VIETNAM
TO REJOIN THEIR FAMILIES IN HONG KONG. A FURTHER 8,700 WITH NO
CLA IM ON HONG KONG HAVE ALSO BEEN ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THE TERRITORY. IN ADDITION, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE PREPARED TO GIVE TEMPORARY SHELTER TO ALL REFUGEES PICKED UP AT SEA BY VESSELS WHOSE FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL IS HONG KONG, AS WELL AS TO ALL THOSE WHO MAKE THEIR WAY TO HONG KONG IN THEIR OWN BOATS, UNTIL THEY CAN BE RESETTLED BY THE UNHCR IN OTHER COUNTRIES, OVER 5,100 REFUGEES IN THIS CATEGORY WERE ALLOWED TO LAND IN HONG KONG IN 1978 ALONE. ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE BEEN RESETTLED ELSEWHERE, THE GREAT
MAJORITY ARE STILL IN HONG KONG".
CONFIDENTIAL
13.0UR
107