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whether there was a case for returning those who did not qualify as refugees under the terms of the UN Convention. If they did
not, we could then ask the UNHCR to state formally that all boat
people should be regarded as refugees because of the risk of
persecution if they returned, and to urge resettlement
countries, especially the US, to stop distinguishing between
refugees and "economic migrants".
9.
The problem of Vietnamese refugees remains a very real
one in Hong Kong. Although arrivals so far in 1983 have been at
a lower level than in 1982, so too have resettlements. It is
important for relations between HMG and Hong Kong that we are
seen to make every effort to assist them with the problem.
Governor of Hong Kong has been consulted and agrees.
The
[Date]
R D Clift
Hong Kong Department
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