26
منكم
GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 271034Z MAR 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 516 OF 27 MARCH
FOR FORD FROM HEYWOOD
YOUR TELNO 294 RECEIVED IN FCO SERIES
VIETNAMESE REFUGEEES
ник
HKIZ 243/2 RECEIVEC ૦ ૧ બવ 5
*APY
31 MAR 1981
DESK OCEA
INDEX
No/M
AER
PA
ACHON
31
Pas Bil?
copied to soras Pano 31/3
THE FOLLOWING POINTS MAY HELP IN MEETING THE DIFFICULTIES YOU FACE FOLLOWING THE BBC ''TODAY'' PROGRAMME AND THE POOR RESPONSE
TO THE LATEST VISIT OF THE U.K. SELECTION TEAM.
1. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW ADDITIONAL REFUGEES SINCE THE TEAM'S
LAST VISIT IN SEPTEMBER WHO ARE NOT ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED FOR
RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE.
2. UNLIKE THE AMERICANS AND CANADIANS WHO HAVE A CONSTANT PRESENCE
HERE, THIS UK SELECTION TEAM COME ONLY PERIODICALLY AND IS NOT
ABLE TO MAINTAIN AN INTEREST IN UK RESETTLEMENT WITH THE REFUGEES.
3. MOST REFUGEES HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES IN NORTH AMERICA AND
HOPE TO JOIN THEM. IN ANY CASE THE GENERAL PUBLICITY GIVEN TO
RESETTLEMENT IN THE USA NATURALLY ATTRACTS ALL COMERS. WE TRY TO
INJECT A BALANCE IN THIS PUBLICITY BUT NUMBERS ARE AGAINST US.
4. OVER FIVE HUNDRED WITHDREW FROM THE UK SELECTION LIST, AND A FURTHER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FAILED TO SHOW FOR INTERVIEWS FOR
REASONS 2 AND 3 ABOVE. ALSO BECAUSE OF THE SLOW RATE OF OFFTAKE TO
THE UK. SOME HAVE WAITED PATIENTLY FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE NATURALLY
GROWN IMPATIENT OR HAVE BECOME INTERESTED IN GOING ELSEWHERE.
5. THE GROWING ECONOMIC BACKGROUND TO RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK MAY
MAKE GOOD PRESS BUT IN FACT IT IS NOT A MAJOR REASON FOR A LACK OF
INTEREST.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
HK & GD
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL