HOFO 020/28
PP HONGA ID
GR 320
RESTRICTED
24315-
REGISTRY Action Taken
ACG157
(43)
TpH/ HR GO London
NO DISTRIBUTION
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
HRGD
HKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
29 APR 1983
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
NO 125515
मु
FM HONG KONG 280454Z APR 83
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 657 OF 28 APRIL
FOR HELEN YU FROM LEEKS
YOUR (36) IN VR/BRC
BRC LETTER ON REPATRIATION OF VRS
1. THE LINE YOU HAVE TAKEN PREVIOUSLY IS EXACTLY CORRECT. YOU MIGHT
SUPPLEMENT IT WITH THE FOLLOWING :-
(A) A YEAR AGO HONG KONG HAD 9,800 VRS. IT NOW HAS 12,600, AND WITH THE USUAL 5 MONTH ARRIVAL SEASON STILL BEFORE US,
(B) RESETTLEMENT HAS FALLEN BY 80% IN A YEAR. ONLY 3 COUNTRIES REGULARLY TAKE VRS FROM HONG KONG - USA, AUSTRALIA, AND
CANADA TOTALLING ABOUT 250 PER MONTH. 30 HAVE LEFT FOR UK IN
THE PAST 6 MONTHS, INCLUDING 24 SHIP RESCUE CASES.
(C) IN AN EFFORT TO DISCOURAGE MORE ARRIVALS, WHILE NEVERTHELESS
GIVING THOSE HERE ASYLUM IN HUMANE CONDITIONS, 3,800 ARE NOW IN
CLOSED CENTRES, WHICH LAST YEAR COST THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY
HK DOLLARS 60 MILLION AND WILL PROBABLY COST A FURTHER 100
MILLION DOLLARS IN 1983. THIS IS EXCLUSIVE OF UNHCR'S
CONTRIBUTION. WE CANNOT CARRY THIS BURDEN INDEFINITELY.
2. BARDER QUERIES HOW REPATRIATION COULD TAKE PLACE WITH UNHCR
AGREEMENT. THE ANSWER IS IN MY TELNO 243 TU YOU OF 11 FEBRUARY.
WE WOULD NOT CONSIDER REPATRIATION OF ANY WHO QUALIFIED AS
REFUGEES UNDER THE UN CONVENTION. BUT IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY
CLEAR TO US, AND TO RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, THAT THE MAJORITY ARE
NOT NOW FLEEING PERSECUTION AND ARE NO DIFFERENT IN MOTIVE FROM
THOSE CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHOM WE RETURN DAILY TO CHINA.
UNHCR SHOWS NO QUALMS OVER REPATRIATION TO CHINA. THOSE VIETNAMESE
WHO COULD ESTABLISH A CLAIM TO ASYLUM WOULD OF COURSE BE HANDED
OVER TO UNHCR IN THE USUAL WAY.
3. I TRUST THE ABOVE PROVIDES A SUITABLE BASIS FOR RESPONSE TO BRC.
YOUDE
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