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ZCZC
WCLNAN 0479
CONFIDENTIAL
TT FCOLN
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$286
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FM WELLI TO FCOLN
0904072 OCT
GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WELLINGTON
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER 014/25
OF 090407Z OCTOBER 85
!
нин 243
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
110CT 1985
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
V
REGATRY
INFO TELELETTER UKMIS GENEVA, OTTAWA, CANBERRA, WASHINGTON
FROM:
T D O'LEARY, WELLINGTON
FOLLOWIN
FOR:
210
A.E. FURNESS, SPD, FCO
FCO TEL 193 OF 23 SEPTIMBER:
SCORRI REPORT.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONC;
I TOOK ACTION PY LETTER ON 27 SEPTEMBER TO NOPPISH, SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. TODAY HE HANDED ME THE FOLLOWING REPLY.
QUOTE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 27 SEPTEMBER INFORMING ME OF
THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S WHITE PAPER ENTITLED
QUOTE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE
VIETNAMESE UNQUOTE. IT WAS PARTICULARLY HEARTENING TO LEARN OF
YOUR GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RESETTLE A FURTHER FIVE HUNDRED VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. THIS DECISION WILL,
FEEL SURE, GO SOME WAY TO ALLEVIATING THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES IN
HONG KONG AND WILL SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES
TO FOLLOW.
WITH REGARD TO YOUR GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH FOR 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 PEGISTERED 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 AROVE. THE
BULK OF THESE ARE LIKELY TO GO TO FAMILY GROUPS WITH YOUNG 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 RE 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.
SIGNED T D O'LEARY
YYYY
SPD REGISTRY PSE PASS TO HKGO LONDON
WASHINGTON EMBASSY PSE PASS TO HKGO WASHINGTON
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