CONFIDENTIAL
had about 17 per cent of the Indo-China refugees. If the only consideration were refugee populations then the monthly off-take for Hong Kong should be about 1,375. However, the United States had also to take into account those who had relatives in the United States or pest associations with the United States Government. Because so many refugees in Hong Kong came from North Vietnam and a very high proportion were Chinese there were inevitably fewer in the US Categories I and II than elsewhere.
4.
The Governor said he understood the US position. However, it was important to recognise that the Chinese in Vietnam were as much genuine refugees as others. They were being severely discriminated against. Resettlement programmes had to be geared worldwide for all refugees. He asked whether all the refugees in Thailand were really considered candidates for resettlement outside the region. Ambassador Clark said that Thailand had refused to offer local resettlement and had turned down an offer of funds for a study to be made. The Governor mentioned Mr Hartling's optimism about local resettlement. Ambassador Clark discounted this and said it would only be possible to talk to the Thais about resettlement when numbers were very substantially lower.
5.
Ambassador Clark asked what responsibilities UNHCR accepted for care and maintenance. H E replied that payment was only made for refugees in UNHCR camps, about
of those in Hong Kong. Mr Hartling had frankly admitted that he lacked sufficient funds. Ambassador Clark commented that the UNHCR's latest appeal for funds had been based on a camp population of 300,000 in 1980 and yet already there were 350,000 in camps in the region. They seemed incapable of adequate forward planning.
6.
The Governor said that numbers in Hong Kong would increase because of the policies in Malaysia and Indonesia. He asked what figure the United States had in mind for Hong Kong under the extended programme. Ambassador Clark said that the decision on a larger programme had only been taken in the past 24 hours and quotas had not yet been discussed. It was important that other countries should follow the US lead and increase places. The US Administration and Congress would follow closely what the United Kingdom was prepared to do for Hong Kong. The United Kingdom should be as concerned as the United States. This would affect the allocation of figures. The Governor asked if it was true that numbers were being deliberately kept low because of the United Kingdom. Ambassador Clark replied that this was not the only factor, but it was undoubtedly a factor. There was very strong feeling in the United States about the contributions made by other countries. The Governor said that this was not a fair comparison since
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