CONFIDENTIAL
15794 1
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NEW ZEALAND'S ASSISTANCE WITH THE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE NEW ZEALAND
CABINET APPROVED THE 1985/86 INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROGRAMME IT
AGREED TO WIDEN FAMILY REUNIFICATION CRITERIA CONSIDERABLY. A
REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL QUOTA OF PLACES FOR REGISTERED REFUGEES
WITH NO RELATIVES IN THIRD COUNTRIES AND WHO HAD BEEN IN REFUGEE
CAMPS IN EXCESS OF FIVE YEARS WAS HOWEVER DEFERRED.
WE ARE NOW RE-EXAMINING THIS QUESTION AND THE APPROPRIATE
AUTHORITIES ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF APPROVING
AN ADDITIONAL SEVENTY PLACES TO BE UTILISED BETWEEN FEBRUARY-JUNE
1986 TO CATER FOR CASES SUCH AS THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE BULK
OF THESE ARE LIKELY TO GO TO FAMILV GROUPS WITH YOUNO CHILDREN
WHO HAVE KNOWN NOTHING BUT LIFE IN THE CAMPS. CONSIDERATION MAY
ALSO HOWEVER BE GIVEN TO REQUESTS FROM THE GOVERNMENTS OF A
NUMBER OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG FOR ASSISTANCE
WITH LONG-TERM REFUGEE CASES. SHOULD APPROVAL FOR THESE
ADDITIONAL PLACES BE FORTHCOMING. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO SECURE
A SMALL ONE-OFF ALLOCATION OF PLACES FOR REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONVEY THIS INFORMATION
TO YOUR GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE.
ENDS
2.
YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE
COMMISSION FOR NEW ZEALAND ON THE OUTCOME OF THE NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT REVIEW.
3.
FOR WELLINGTON. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD EXPRESS TO
SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THIS ENCOURAGING
RESPONSE AND OUR HOPE THAT ADDITIONAL PLACES FOR HONG KONG WILL
BE APPROVED.
HOWE
MINIMAL
HKD
SEAD
UND
SPD
2
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO2
MR RAWSTHORNE.
HOME OFFICE.
LUNAR HOUSE. CROYDON
HKGO LONDON