GRS 650
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 140955Z DECEMBER 81
MKK 243/2
,*』:
RECEIVAM Mt XIGMINY NO. 3
14 DEC 1981
TOPCOPY T
INOCK
AY
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1122 OF 14 DECEMBER
No
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR UKMTS GENEVA
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
118)
23/12
Af 23/1
caped GARGO
190 14/12
CHIEF SECRETARY'S LETTER CR2/4821/75 OF 2 DECEMBER TO DONALD:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: US POLICY
1. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE RECENT CHANGES IN US RESETTLEMENT POLICY
WITH THE US CONSUL GENERAL, WHO IS ABOUT TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES FOR LEAVE AND WILL BE HAVING TALKS WITH THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.
2. LEVIN CONFIRMED THAT:
(A) THE DECISION NOT TO INCLUDE CATEGORY 4E CASES (THOSE WITHOUT TIES IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ACCOUNT FOR 40 PER CENT OF
THE CASES PREVIOUSLY PROCESSED BY THE AMERICANS HERE) IN THE US PROGRAMME APPLIED TO HONG KONG ALONE AMONG FIRST
ASYLUM COUNTRIRES, HE DID NOT DENY THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RISK (AS THERE WOULD BE WITH THE THAIS OR MALAYSIANS)
THAT HONG KONG WOULD REACT BY REFUSING ASYLUM.
(B) THE DECISION WOULD AFFECT 4ES IN HONG KONG BEFORE THE CHANGE
OF POLICY AS WELL AS NEW ARRIVALS 1.E. IT WAS BEING APPLIED RETROACTIVELY.
LEVIN SAID THAT HE FOUND BOTH DECISIONS DIFFICULT TO DEFEND AND HAD URGED WASHINGTON TO RECONSIDER (B).
3. GIVEN OUR ALMOST TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON THE UNITED STATES FOR RESETTLEMENT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROTEST TOO LOUDLY ABOUT THE MANNER IN WHICH THEIR POLICY IS BEING APPLIED. BUT
WE THINK THAT THE DISCRIMINATORY FEATURES OF THE PRESENT
POLICY JUSTIFY A FURTHER APPROACH TO THE AMERICANS. LEVIN
THOUGH THAT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL IN SUPPLEMENTING
HIS OWN EFFORTS TO SECURE IMPORVEMENTS. AS SEEN FROM HERE
IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SUCH AN APPROACH WITHOUT
INVITING THE USUAL RESPONSE THAT IT IS UP TO THE UK TO DO MORE.
4. SUBJECT TO YOUR AND WASHINGTON'S VIEWS, THE EMBASSY
MIGHT SPEAK TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT ALONG THE FOLLOWING
LINES:
(1) WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL TO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION THEY HAVE MADE IN RESETTLING REFUGEES
FROM HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
See (120
100
三
See (126) 212
129)
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