GRS 170
CONFIDENTIAL
FM OTTAWA 312110Z JUL 79
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243]
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 339 OF 31 JULY
AND TO HONG KONG
1459
PA
A
8
1493
HONG KONG TELNO 1057 AND FCO TELNO 355 TO CANBERRA.
1469
1. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING, THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER HAS WRITTEN TO THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION EXPRESSING OUR CONCERN THAT HONG KONG SHOULD RECEIVE A FAIR SHARE OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES.
2.
WE HAVE HANDED A COPY OF THE LETTER TO THE APPROPRIATE DIVISION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. THE DEA'S INITIAL RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND RECOGNISE HONG KONG'S HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN TAKING SO MANY REFUGEES. THE CANADIANS ARE CONCERNED, TOO, THAT
THERE SHOULD BE A FAIR ALLOCATION OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES, BUT BELIEVE PLANS SHOULD INCLUDE OVERLAND REFUGEES, AS WELL AS THE BOAT CASES. THEY ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A STRONG CASE
FOR OFFERING MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES TO REFUGEES WHO WOULD
CTHERWISE BE TOWED OUT TO SEA.
3. THE DEA WILL BE DISCUSSING THE MATTER FURTHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION.
FORD
i
FILES
SEAD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
N AM D
SAD
MAED
EID
FUSD
OID
IPD
NEWS D MVD
FS
FS/LPS
PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER
PS/PUS
SIA A DUIZ
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY
MR STRATTON
MR BULLARD
MR FERGUSSON .MR FRETWELL
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION BOAT PEOPLE
CONFIDENTIAL