CONFIDENTIAL
5. HONG KONG NOW HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF BOAT REFUGEES
IN THE REGION. 40 PERCENT OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 2 YEARS.
6. ALTHOUGH I BRIEFED THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION (AND ABOUT 20 OTHER CONSULS/COMMISSIONERS) ON THE POSITION ON THE 17TH SEPTEMBER A FURTHER APPROACH TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN CANBERRA MIGHT
ENCOURAGE THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT A MORE GENEROUS POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG AND ACCEPT REFUGEES AT A HIGHER RATE.''
YOUDE
LIMITED
SEAD
HK + GD
FED
UND
NEWS D
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/ PUS
MR DONALD
MR URE
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED
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