CONFIDENTIAL
STATE 381489/01
RESE EMENT COUNTRIES. TO DATE, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA EAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER SMALL INCREASES IN THEIR REFUGEE OFFTAKE FROM HONG KONG. NEITHER AUSTRALIA NOR CANADA HAS MAINTAINED AN OFFTAKE SIMILAR TC THAT OF THE U.S. OVER THE PAST THREE FISCAL YEARS. AUSTRALIA HAS TAKEN 2,300 IN THE PAST THREE FISCAL YEARS WHILE CANADA HAS TAKEN OVER 2,800 FOR THE SAME PERIOD. CANADA'S FY 1985 PROGRAM EXCEEDED THAT OF THE U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME BY 2.
4. (C) THE USG REMAINS COMMITTED TO DURABLE SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PRCELEM, BUT THE BRITISH REQUEST THAT OTHER GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DO MORE THAN THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN DCING POSES PROBLEMS. IN THE U.S. AT THIS TIME, CURRENT POLITICAL AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS MAY PLACE LIMITATIONS CN INCREASED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KCNG. THE FY 1986 REFUGEE CEILING FOR FIRST ASYLUM CCUNTRIES IN EAST ASIA, INCLUDING HONG KONG, IS NOW 37,000, DOWN FROM LAST YEAR'S ADMISSIONS LEVEL OF 42,000. ALTHOUGH THE DEPARTMENT IS OBTAINING A CURRENT OPERATIONS BUDGET. THE FULL IMPACT OF OTHER NEW LEGISLATION (GRAMM-RUDMAN) CN CURRENT PROGRAMS HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED. THE U.S. CAN NOT MAKE FIRM
COMMITMENTS TO INCREASEL RESETTLEMENT FROM ANY REGION AT THIS TIME DUE TO POLITICAL AND POSSIBLE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
INS IS
5. (C) BEGIN BACKGROUND: THERE ARE OTHER DIFFICULTIES WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED NOW. THE SIZE OF THE US PROGRAM'S ELIGIBLE REFUGEE POOL IS DECLINING RAPIDLY. THERE ARE PREDICTIONS THAT THE U.S. PROGRAM MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AFTER THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR TO MAINTAIN A FULLY OPERATIONAL PROGRAM IN HONG KONG. THIS PROBLEM IS BEGINNING TO SURFACE IN OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL. IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING ITS GUIDELINES FOR THE ADMISSION OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEES WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT IN EARLY 1986. THE DEPARTMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE GUIDELINES WILL PRECLUDE THE USE OF CATEGORIES FOR PERSONS FROM NORTHERN VIETNAM, AND WILL BE VERY HARD ON THOSE WHO HAVE VERY TENUOUS TIES TO THE WEST. MANY IN HONG KONG ́S REFUGEE CAMPS ARE FROM THE NORTH AND LACK TIES TO THE U.S. OR OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. THE SECRETARY'S FANEL ON INDOCHINESE REFUGEES HAS NOT YET COMPLETED ITS STUDY OF THE REFUGEE SITUATION. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED OR CONSIDERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. END BACKGROUND.
6.
(LOU) THE EMBASSY, ON THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL, SHOULD THEREFORE INFORM THE FCO THAT THE USG HAS REVIEWED HMG'S PROPOSAL FOR INCREASING ITS RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG, AND IS SUPPORTIVE OF HMG'S EFFORTS IN THIS ENDEAVOR. BT
#1489
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we should beware thuis
argument. "Many
in fact
means come
though the US likes to renditas
most?
hass than sing
HK's 9500
Noth V.- ie"! let
the is consider the
other 1/2"
دة
CONFIDENTIA I
STATE 381489/01