CONFIDENTL.L
386
Fir Simpson-Orlebar (UND)
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HKK 243/!
19FE79
PA Action en
AN ISLAND PROCESSING CENTRE FOR INDO-CHINESE REFUGE
1. If there is to be an office meeting on this question (Mr Leahy's minute of 14 February) I hope I can be given the opportunity to attend.
2. Your submission of 13 February was cleared with my department in draft, but I did not see it myself before it was finalised and
Ja agree with Mr Cortazzi that the line taken is too negative. particular, I agree that the establishment of an island centre would not necessarily encourage an even greater outflow of refugees from Vietnam: it could just as well act as an effective deterrent.
3. ily particular concern is the British Government's responsibility for Hong Long, where the problem is prospectively more serious - because of sheer lack of space and the current level of immigration from China than in any other South-East Asian territory. We have agreed to take 1,000 refugees from Hong Kong over the next 12-15 months. we have also urged the UNHCR to do what he can to speed up the resettlement of refugees from the territory and have made supporting representations to the governments of major recip ient countries – with generally disappointing results. Finally,
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the secretary of state has spoken strongly to the Vietnamese
mbassador about his Government's part in organising the refugee traffic, and his remarks have recently been reinforced by
r Cortazzi. These actions have been much appreciated in Hong Kong, but they will not go very far to reduce the burden on the territory.
4. For all its drawbacks, which I fully recognise, the island centre proposal is the only one in the field which offers any real prospect of relieving the pressure on Hong Kong and the Governor has backed it strongly. I therefore hope that we con play as constructive a part as possible in discussion of it.
15 February 1979
Copies to:
Sir Parsons
Fir Cortazzi
Mr Murray
R J T McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
Mr Leahy
Mr Simons (SEAD)
Mr Shepherd (MVD)
CONFIDENTIAL