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Nicic 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 2 MAY 1980
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
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PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
J22.5 AW 22
A4221
TOP COPY
GRS 237
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FM CANBERRA 2101282 MAY 80
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
*
TELEGRAM NUMBER 9 OF 21 MAY
INFO FCO
Citb
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 10: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. WHEN I PAID MY FIRST CALL ON THE AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS HE RAISED WITH ME, AS I HAD EXPECTED, THE SUBJECT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. HE EXPLAINED ON
STANDARD LINES AUSTRALIA'S SENSE OF OBLIGATION TO ITS NEARER
NEIGHBOURS TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR REFUGEE BURDEN AND OF THE POSSIBLE EXTRA DIFFICULTIES WHICH MIGHT ARISE FROM THE UNITED STATES' NEED TO TAKE IN MORE CUBANS. IN REPLY TO MY QUESTION, MR MACPHEE CONFIRMED THE AUSTRALIAN DECISION TO TAKE 1,150 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG IN 1980/81.
2. 1 EXPRESSED THE GRATITUDE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT AUSTRALIA HAD DONE AND WAS PREPARED TO DO IN THE FUTURE. BUT I EMPHASISED THE GRAVITY OF HONG KONG'S PROBLEM WITH ITS BOAT PEOPLE, AND ASKED MR MACPHEE TO KEEP HONG. KONG IN THE FOREFRONT OF HIS MIND SHOULD ANY POSSIBLE INCREASE IN THE AUSTRALIAN QUOTA BECOME POSSIBLE FOR ANY REASON. IN REPLY, THE MINISTER SAID THAT HE WOULD DO SO: INDEED, HE FORESAW TWO POSSIBLE CONTINGENCIES WHICH MIGHT ENABLE THIS. ON ONE HAND, IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE TO PROCESS AS MANY REFUGEES FROM THAILAND AS THE QUOTA ENVISAGED. SECOND, THERE MIGHT BE A SHORT FALL IN THE PLANNED NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM THE SOVIET UNION. IN EITHER CONTINGENCY, HE UNDERTOOK THAT HE WOULD GIVE IMMEDIATE AND SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO FILLING UP THE GAP WITH A FURTHER INTAKE FROM HONG KONG.
MASON
FILES
(THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED)
HK & GD (4) SEAD
RESTRICTED
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
IN LONDON
48)