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CONFIDENTIAL ..
TOP COPY
GRS 550
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 010500Z MAY 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 462 OF 01 MAY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
FOR CLIFT HK AND G DEPT
FROM GOVERNOR
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YOUR TELNO 401: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
HKK 243/2 HICK
RELEVY NO. 51
6 MAY 1981
INDEX
PA
MOS
REISTRY Action Taken
No Most Pas 6/5
WE ACCEPT THAT THE TIMING AND TACTICS OF AN APPROACH
TO MINISTERS MUST BE DECIDED BY YOU. WE ALSO FULLY ACCEPT
YOUR PROBLEMS OF HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. BUT FOR US IT REMAINS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE THAT EVENTUALLY WE SECURE SOME MODEST CONTINUATION OF THE U K PROGRAMME.
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2. THE GENERAL POSITION ON RESETTLEMENT POSSIBILITIES REMAINS AS DESCRIBED IN PARAS 4 AND 5 OF MY TELNO 173. SINCE LORD CARRINGTON'S VISIT THE SITUATION HAS DEVELOPED MORE OR LESS AS PREDICTED, WITH AN INFLOW OF 1281 IN APRIL AND DEPARTURES ON RESETTLEMENT OF 2060 OF WHICH 75 PER CENT HAVE GONE TO US.
3. THE AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR CONTINUE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT U K GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS ONCE THE PRESENT QUOTA ENDS. THEY HAVE AGAIN REFERRED TO THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT
AND FOR A STEADY MONTHLY COMMITMENT.
4. THE ESTIMATED ARRIVALS HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, COUPLED WITH THE REDUCTION IN OUTFLOW ON RESETTLEMENT FROM THE 1980 MONTHLY AVERAGE, MEANS THAT THE REFUGEE POPULATION IS NOW GOING DOWN MUCH MORE SLOWLY THAN BEFORE. BECAUSE MAY
AND JUNE ARE MONTHS WHEN THE WEATHER IS FAVOURABLE FOR REFUGEES LEAVING VIETNAM AND COMING TO HONG KONG, WE MAY
HAVE AN ACTUAL INCREASE IN THE REFUGEE POPULATION. THIS WOULD TRIGGER A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC ANXIETY AND QUESTIONING ABOUT THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME.
5. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THERE SEEMS ADVANTAGE IN GOING FOR A MODEST ADDITIONAL QUOTA NOW, RATHER THAN WAITING WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACTUAL INCREASE IN THE REFUGEE POPULATION
HERE. IF THAT HAPPENED THE US, IN PARTICULAR, WOULD PROBABLY
ARGUE STRONGLY FOR A HIGHER UK FOLLOW-ON QUOTA THAN WE
HAVE SO FAR SUGGESTED AS THE MINIMUM TO MAINTAIN A CREDIBLE
COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG'S NEED FOR RESETTLEMENT PLACES.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.
See /39,
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