GR 239
RESTRICTED
FN TOKYO 253815Z JUNE 79
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 312 OF 25 JUNE, 1979
;
HKK 24.
$3/1
INFO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR), WASHINGTON, U'MIS GENEVA,
(1188
UKMIS NEW YORK, MANILA, SINGAPORE, KUALA LUMPUR,- BANGKOK, JAKARTA, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON
SAVING TO HANOI
OUR TELNO 297 OF 21 JUNE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
?
DES
PA
W3%
2
1. ON 23 JUNE, THE EVE OF PRESIDENT CARTER'S ARRIVAL IN TOKYO,
AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE
GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO TAKE NEW MEASURES TO RELAX CONDITIONS
FOR TEMPORARY ASYLUM AND PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN JAPAN. THESE
PROPOSALS HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE CABINET AND THEREFORE MAY STILL BE SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES.
2.
SINCE FEW REFUGEES HAVE SO FAR BEEN FOUND ELIGIBLE FOR SETTLEMENT UNDER THE PRESENT 528 QUOTA IT IS PROPOSED TO EXTEND ELIGIBILITY IN THE CASE OF REFUGEES CURRENTLY TEMPORARILY SETTLED IN JAPAN TO (1) THOSE WITH ANY RELATIVES IN JAPAN, (THE RELATIVE NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE A PARENT, CHILD OR SPOUSE) AND (11) TO THOSE WHO HAVE A JOB (NO LONGER SPECIFYING THAT IT SHOULD PROMISE "'A STABLE LIFE'?). REFUGEES WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN OTHER ASIAN
COUNTRIES WILL QUALIFY FOR SETTLEMENT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS, OR IF THEY HAVE WORKED FOR A JAPANESE EMBASSY OR COMPANY OR LIVED IN JAPAN AS A TRAINEE OR STUDENT FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME''. PREVIOUSLY THE PERIOD OF A YEAR OR MORE WAS STIPULATED IN BOTH
CASES.
3. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO RELAX CONDITIONS FOR TEMPORARY ASYLUM. A THIRD-COUNTRY GUARANTEE WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED FOR REFUGEES
ARRIVING ON FOREIGN SHIPS WHEN JAPAN IS NOT THE FIRST PORT OF
CALL.
FCO PASS SAVING TO HANO!
WILFORD
FILES
FED
SEAD
HK.GD UNI
NEWS. D
O
13
MR MURRAY
[REPEATED
AS
REQUESTED]
RESTRICTED