CONFIDENTIAL
GX 175
NFIDENTIAL
FM NUNG KONG Ø31000Z JUL
TO PRIORITY F.C.C.
TELEGRAM NUMBER 912 OF 3 JULY, 1979
INFO PRIORITY THE HAGUE, UKMIS GENEVA,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: NETHERLANDS PROGRAMME..
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HKL 243/1
30. 31
निंदि
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1. WE HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORTS THAT THE NETHERLANDS HAS DECIDED TO ADMIT AN EXTRA 1,000 REFUGEES. THE CONSUL-GENERAL HERE HAS TOLD UC HE UNDERSTANDS THAT, AS IN THE PAST, UNHCR WILL BE ASKED TO RECOMMEND WHERE THE REFUGEES BE TAKEN FROM.
2. UNLESS YOU SEC OBJECTION, GRATEFUL IF THE HAGUE WOULD URGE THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE NEW QUOT BE TAKEN FROM HONG KONG, MAKING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
R. ONLY 16 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE
NETHERLANDS THIS YEAR:
D. IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO PENALIZE HONG KONG FOR MAINTAINING A HUMANE LANDING POLICY BY GIVING GREATER NUMBERS TO COUNTRIES
WHICH FAIL TO DO SO:
C. 60,000 REFUGEES AWAIT RESETTLEMENT IN HONG KONG, ONLY 5,000 HAVE LEFT SO FAR THIS YEAR, ABOUT 12 PER CENT OF THE ARRIVAL RATE: WHEREAS MALAYSIA (WITH FEWER ARRIVALS) HAS HAD A DEPARTURE RATE THIS YEAR OF OVER 40 PER CENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD
NEWS D M & VD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
CID
PUSD
OTD
IPD
PS. PS/LPS PS/MR.HURD
PS/MR.BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF. SIR A PARSONS
MR. CORTAZZI
MR. MURRAY
MR.STRATTON
ADDITIONAL DISTN.
BOAT PEOPLE
CONFIDENTIAL