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d)
The Chinese in HK have little sympathy
with the Vietnamese.
7.
These inconsistencies are criticised in HK. Our
only answer is that the VRS are here to be resettled
elsewhere.
OPTIONS OPEN TO HONG KONG
(a)
8.
HK.
Resettlement'
We will continue to work on potential resettlement
countries and on UNHCR towards their taking more from
But we see little hope of success. One argument
they use is that as UK is doing nothing for its
dependency, why should they? UK resettlement quota of
10,000 VRS announced in July 1979 has been used up.
i
If HMG were able to agree a small additional quota of
say 1,000 spread over 2 years, we could put much more
pressure on the Americans, Australians and Canadians.
Could Lord Belstead pursue this possibility?
(b)
Closed Camps
9.
The new closed camps policy was introduced on
2nd July. The main one is at Chi Ma Wan and contained
..2720... refugees at the beginning of December.
If
the rate of resettlement continues on its present trend,
the population of the camps will continue to grow. n
present estimates of arrivals and departures there will
be sufficient capacity in camps either existing or under
construction to see us through to the end of next year's
CONFIDENTIAL