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CONFIDENTIAL
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 AUG 1933.
DESK OFFICER
MEGISTRY
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DESKBY 300100Z
FM FCO 291630Z JUL 83
TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 285 OF 29 JULY
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, OTTAWA, PARIS
RESETTLEMENT OF BOAT-PEOPLE:
Min your
HONOLULU CONFERENCE, 1-3 AUGUST
1 YOU MAY BE AWARE FROM ADAMS (GENEVA)'S LETTER OF 19 JULY TO
UND/FCO COPIED TO YOU THAT THE JAPANESE WILL, WITH CANADA,
AUSTRALIA, FRANCE AND UNHCR OBSERVERS, BE ATTENDING A MEETING AT
MINISTERIAL LEVEL CALLED BY THE US TO DISCUSS LONG TERM
PROSPECTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR S E ASIA REFUGEE PROBLEMS.
2 NOT BEING A MAJOR RESETTLEMENT STATE THE UK HAS NOT BEEN
INVITED AND WE ARE CONTENT WITH THAT. HONG KONG, LIKE OTHER
COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR BOAT-PEOPLE IN THE REGION,
IS ALSO EXCLUDED. BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT NUMBERS
OF BOAT-PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BUILD-UP IN CAMPS IN HONG KONG
(NOW OVER 13,000) AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESETTLEMENT
DIMINISH. THE OUTFLOW OF BOAT-PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM HAS
DECLINED BUT REMAINS SUBSTANTIAL, (12,300 IN ALL THIS YEAR,
UP TO MAY).
3 ALTHOUGH THE JAPANESE TEAM MAY ALREADY HAVE SET OFF WE SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL IF DUTY OFFICER (OR RELEVANT FIRST SECRETARY/
COUNSELLOR) COULD CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT AND ASK IF
THEY COULD KEEP HONG KONG'S CONCERNS IN MIND IF THE CONFERENCE
CONSIDERS ADDITIONAL RESETTLEMENT POSSIBILITIES. (FOR YOUR OWN
INFORMATION IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE AMERICANS MAY PRESS
THE JAPANESE TO OFFER FURTHER RESETTLEMENT PLACES, THOUGH WE ARE
AWARE THAT THEY HAVE SO FAR RESETTLED VERY FEW AND WILL BE MOST
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