CONFIDENTIAL
British High Commission
PO Box 1812 Wellington New Zealand
R+R tome
J 7.3
AKK 24315
Telex NZ 3325 Telegraphic address UKREP Telephone 45204GISTRY NO. 1
Hong Kong & General Department
FCO
10 MAR 1980
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INDEX
Our reference
Durrefer
PA
243/1
REGISTRY Action Taken
76.3 Aw 201
Date 28 February
Dear Department
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1.
I spoke today to Wade Armstrong, the Assistant in Asian Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Maurice Ormsby, the Desk Officer, along the lines of FCO Saving telegram no. 1 to Bonn and left with them the figures in FCO Saving no. 2 to Bonn.
2.
Armstrong told me that the quota for Vietnamese refugees for the calendar year 1980 was 1800, which was the maximum number they could process in a year, and that of this number something like 160 would come from Hong Kong. The figure has not been made public and we are asked to respect the MFA's confidence. It is subject to contingencies, the need for administrative flexibility and family sizes. A selection team would be going to Hong Kong in May. Because of the pressure the centres accepting refugees in New Zealand it would not be possible to increase the figure beyond 160. It was still too soon to start thinking about 1981 quotas.
3.
on
They reminded me that on top of last year's quota they had taken 31 from the Skylark and that the city of Rotorua had resettled 50 refugees privately, (it was mentioned in passing that a few refugees from Hong Kong had made an unfortunate impression on local volunteers by an excessive display of expensive consumer goods).
4.
Ormsby asked over what time did we expect to receive the latest 8,000 boat people into Britain and what plans we had after that. Noting that Hong Kong had taken in some refugees he asked about opportunities for refugees to settle or to stay for an extended period: could they get jobs and accommodation? I should be grateful for some guidance on these points.
Bours ever
Cc:
Governor's Office HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
Colin Malay
CP Mulcahy
201