BY BÁG
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香港 下亞里道 畢道
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DR Snoxell Esq
UKMIS GENEVA
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.
1 JUL June 1980 1980
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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG:
RESETTLEMENT AND UNHCR
Thank you for your telno 7 of 20 June. As you know,
our original request for information on UNHCR resettlement advice had been based on remarks made in the Netherlands and Sweden to the representatives of
We do the Hong Kong Committee for the Resettlement of Vietnamese Refugees. not wish to give the impression that we believe UNHCR are not now doing all they can to increase the rate of resettlement from Hong Kong. However, it is equally fair to say that we know of no occasion on which the UNHCR have taken the initiative in telling us of contacts they have had with other countries over their resettlement programmes. This is important to us since knowing when UNHCR have been in contact and what they have said makes it easier for us and UK Embassies concerned to frame any further approaches to any potential resettlement countries. The Swedish example is a good case in point. We had not known of any discussions between UNHCR and Swedish officials and I am not sure whether we would have been given the information unless you had raised the matter with them at our request.
2.
Like you, we believe that some countries may find it convenient to shelter behind the 1979 pattern, under which Hong Kong undoubtedly fared poorly. As seen from here the fact that UNHCR were recommending in 1979 that efforts be concentrated on Malaysia and Indonesia as far as boat refugees were concerned was a major factor. The effects here were even more marked because there were far greater quotas available last year than now. Furthermore, countries with smaller quotas are, understandably, inclined to devote part of their programme to family reunion which is likely to favour refugees in places of first asylum from which resettlement rates were greatest in 1979. For all these reasons we certainly expect UNHCR to be making more efforts on behalf of Hong Kong. We are glad that these are being made. However, with so few places available greater efforts by us here and by Embassies are essential and to make these in the best way we do need more information than UNHCR have been providing us with on their own contacts with resettlement countries.
cc TCS Stitt Esq SEAD FCO
PJ Williamson Esq HK&GD FCO
(I C Orr)
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