CONFIDENTIAL
RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT ANY MORE.)
4
YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
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5
(A) HONG KONG HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF UNRESETTLED BOAT-
PEOPLE.
(B) WE SHARE HONG KONG'S CONCERN THAT THE RATE OF RESETTLE-
MENT IS FALLING BECAUSE OF STRICTER ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
IN THE WEST. THE US REJECT MANY AS 'ECONOMIC MIGRANTS' >
EVEN THOUGH UNHCR REGARDS ALL BOAT-PEOPLE AS REFUGEES IF
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DISCRIMINATION THEY WOULD FACE IF
RETURNED TO VIETNAM.
(C)
HONG KONG HAS RESETTLED OVER 14,000 IN ALREADY DENSELY
POPULATED TERRITORY. ALSO, AS THE JAPANESE WILL KNOW,
IMMIGRATION PRESSURE FROM CHINA IS HEAVY.
(D) IF FURTHER RESETTLEMENT OPTIONS ARE DISCUSSED WE SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG'S POSITION COULD BE TAKEN FULLY
INTO ACCOUNT.
IF ASKED ABOUT THE UK'S CONTRIBUTION YOU SHOULD POINT OUT THAT
WE HAVE RESETTLED 16,500 HERE SINCE 1979. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A
SUCCESS. ALTHOUGH WE STILL ACCEPT THOSE RESCUED BY UK SHIPPING
A FURTHER QUOTA' COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AT PRESENT. OTHER
COUNTRIES HAVE CLOSER HISTORIC AND CULTURAL TIES AND THE BOAT-
PEOPLE WOULD USUALLY PREFER TO GO TO THEM.
HOWE
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMUUND
SEAD
HKD
UND
FED
PUSD
NEWS D MAED PS
PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE PS/PUS
MR WRIGHT MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR ADAMS MR URE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
COPIRS TO: HKGO-
CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON
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