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