GRS 150
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
THE HAGUE 221719Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY FCO
HK2243/1
PA
1198.
TELNO 28 OF 22 JAN
INFO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA
PA
Jsuli
No INFO SAVING CANBERRA WASHINGTON OTTAWA WELLINGTON OSLO BERNE VIENNA
BRUSSELS DUBLIN COPENHAGEN BONN BUENOS AIRES BRASILIA AND TOKYO'
YOUR TELNO 36 TO CANBERRA: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WE TOOK ACTION WITH THE DIRECTOR FOR GENERAL AFFAIRS AT THE NETHERLANDS FOREIGN MINISTRY.
2. STUTTERHEIM SAID THAT THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT SYMPATHISED WITH THE DIFFICULTIES IN HONG KONG. THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP: THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL OBSTACLE. THE 230-0DD VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ALREADY IN THE NETHERLANDS WERE HARD-WORKING AND GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WAS DONE FOR THEM, BUT NONETHELESS IT WAS PROVING VERY DIFFICULT TO INTEGRATE THEM. WHEN THEY HAD RESPONDED TO THE RECENT APPEAL OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO TAKE MORE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, THE DUTCH HAD THEREFORE HAD TO TELL HIM THAT THE FIGURE OF 300 WHICH THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT FOR 1979 WAS ALREADY MORE THAN THEY COULD READILY ABSORB. THE NETHERLANDS COULD THEREFORE NOT AGREE TO TAKE MORE THAN THOSE 339.
3. STUTTERHEIM DID HOWEVER SAY THAT IF THE UNHCR INCLUDED REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG IN THE TOTAL OF 390 FOR 1979 THE DUTCH WOULD OF COURSE HAVE NO OEJECTION.
FCO PLEASE PASS TO SAVING ADDRESSEES
SYKES
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
FILES
UND
JK & GD
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/MR LUARD
PS/PUS
SHAD
1ED
CAD
STR A DUFF
MD (C)
HR CORTAZZI
FUND
MR WEIR
OID
ER HURRAY
1PD
XES D IND
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE MA BURLEIGH HOME OFFICE
MR BIRT
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON
QUEEN ANNE'S CATE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE CROYDON