HKIAFH
VIE TNAMESE REFUGEES
BACKGROUND
RES TRIC TED
1.
the SCORRI
to
The Home Office White Paper in response to
report, published on 26 September, announced our decision
accept some 500 Vietnamese refugees, almost all from camps
in Hong Kong, for resettlement in the UK. It also ann ounced
that, depending on
resettlement countries to respond to Hong Kong's needs, HMG
are prepared to consider accepting further limited numbers
in to Hong Kong from the camps, again dependent on other
countries'
responses.
the willingness shown by other
2.
To
maximise the effect of our decision, we are now
other resettlement countries to take additional
reefugees from Hong Kong. UNHCR are also pressing on our
pressing
behalf.
3.
Responses have been mixed.
resettlement countries
Australia has
(and possibly up to 400)
Of the three main
pledged at least 200
extra places for Hong Kong between
now and June 1986. The Canadians have informed us (but not
publicly) that their off take in 1986 will be
announced
increased by 50 places.
announce
further a
still unclear.
It seems likely
increase later on.
The
that they may
is US Dosition
I t seems that some kind of increase will
eventually be agreed, but that this
than
our
may be delayed longer
Ambassador Douglas,
diplomatic effort.
This
failed to
we had originally hoped.
ex-Special Co-ordinator for Refugee Affairs, said he would
explore with the Administration the possibility of a "quick
gesture" to boost
materialise, and a decision now seems unlikely until the
Administration's newly established "Indo-Chinese Refugee
Panel" has
undertaken its proposed review of policy. We are
keen to take advantage of an y opportunity to press the
to respond positively to
Americans
Our initiative.