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PP UKMIS GENEVA
GRS 513
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 091215Z MAY 83
TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 125 OF 9 MAY
Сору
has been passed
to Sir J. Cater.
7198
-
1
10/5
CONFIDENTIAL-
PF Copy t
PA
AND TO PRIORITY PARIS, CANBERRA, OTTAWA.
INFO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, HANOI.
нии 243/1
HKK 243
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 1HLY 1933
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Acho,
{ ·!
AF 115
HARTLING'S
1. YOU WILL BE AWARE OF OUR CONCERN THAT THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESEİ
REFUGEES IN HONG KONG IS NOW HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF
THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM AND THE DECREASING NUMBER
OF RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. I RAISED THE SUBJECT OF
REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WHEN I SAW HARTLING ON 14 APRIL.
VIEW WAS THAT THE OUTFLOW OF BOAT PEOPLE IS DECLINING AND
ORDERLY DEPARTURES ARE INCREASING. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT THIS: BUT THE FACT REMAINS FOR HONG KONG THAT
RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE FALLEN MUCH MORE SHARPLY AND WE
CAN ALSO EXPECT A SEASONAL INCREASE IN ARRIVALS ABOUT NOW.
2. I HAVE GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO WHAT HMG CAN DO TO
HELP HONG KONG IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT
WE SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A MULTILATERAL APPROACH TO
THE VIETNAMESE AIMED AT REDUCING FURTHER THE OUTFLOW OF BOAT
PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM AND IMPROVING THE RATE OF DEPARTURES UNDER
THE ODP. WE SHOULD ALSO AGAIN URGE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO
TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.
FOR UKMIS GENEVA
3.
(A)
(B)
(C)
YOU SHOULD APPROACH UNHCR ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
POINT OUT THE DIFFICULTIES NOW FACED BY HONG KONG:
SUGGEST THAT THE UNHCR SHOULD POINT OUT TO THE VIETNAMESE
THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF
REFUGEES, AND REQUEST THAT THEY PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON
THE ODP:
URGE UNHCR TO PURSUE ALL POSSIBLE AVENUES FOR RESETTLEMENT
OF REFUGEES ALREADY IN COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLM, AND IN
L
CONFIDENTIAL