[ETIANV]
CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MR RENTON: 27-31 OCTOBER 1985
10. VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
Points to make in public
1.
Greatly admire way Hong Kong has
way Hong Kong has shouldered such a large refugee burden. Well aware of difficulties this has posed for such
a small, overcrowded territory.
2.
criteria in
As a result of the SCORRI report, HMG has broadened its
respect of family reunion cases with the result that
about 500 more refugees in Hong Kong will now qualify for
resettlement in Britain. They will be resettled at the rate of
about 40 per month.
DEFENSIVE
3.
(Closed centres)
in
Hong Kong still has
has the largest number of
Vietnamese boat refugees in South East Asia (28% of the regional
total). HKG must continue with the closed centres as a deterrent.
Conditions in closed centres are generally good. To make life
them more tolerable and to prepare the refugees for speedier
resettlement, HKG in conjunction with UNHCR and the voluntary
agencies is launching a further series of educational,
and language training programme s in the closed centres.
4.
Vocational
(Diplomatic campaign) Hope that HMG's decision to accept new
intake of refugees from Hong Kong will encourage other resettlement
are actively pursuing this wi th
yet to know results
countries to take more:
Too early
other
of
countries.
(If pressed).
diplomatic campaign.
5.
(Acceptance by HMG of
family
reunion
cases.)
additional numbers in excess of the
As White Paper explains, prepared to
consider this.
Decision will be taken in the light of willingness
shown by other
resettlement countries to
respond to Hong Kong's
needs,
and of all the circumstances at the
mind real
difficulties
experienced
by
time. Have to bear
Vietname se
in
refugees
in
CONFIDENTIAL
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