GRS 280
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 175
CONFIDENTIAL
Jikk 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 JAN1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
Action Taken
22
OF 1601007Z JANUAYR 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA
20
8
YOUR TELNO 103: UKMIS TELNO 9 : UNCHR RESETTLEMENT MEETING.
WE HAVE RECEIVED BY FACSIMILE THE EXTRACT FROM THE NOTES
PREPARED BY THE UNHCR SETTING OUT THE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROBLEM.
IN PARTICULAR WE ARE AWARE OF THE CONTENT OF PARAGRAPH 5 REFERRING
TO LONG STAYING REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
2. WE APPRECIATE THAT IT WOULD HELP CONSIDERABLY IF A FIRM STATEMENT
REGARDING HONG KONG'S WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT ETHNIC CHINESE AND TO
ESTABLISH A RASRO TRANSIT CENTRE COULD BE MADE.
3. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THESE ARE SENSITIVE ISSUES HERE, PARTICULARLY
THE FORMER. HONG KONG IS A PLACE OF FIRST ASYLUM BUT WE ALSO
HAVE ACCEPTED 14,500 INDO-CHINESE DISPLACED PERSONS FOR
PESETTLEMENT HERE. IT IS INEVITABLE THAT ULTIMATELY HONG KONG WILL
BE LEFT WITH A FURTHER RESIDUE OF REFUGEES WHEN THE RESETTLEMENT
COUNTRIES DECIDE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ''SOLVED''. IT IS
THEREFORE ASKING QUITE A LOT FOR HONG KONG IN ADDITION TO AGREE TO
TAKE A FURTHER REGULAR NUMBER OF REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT.
NEVERTHELESS WE ARE PUTTING THIS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, ARGUING THAT IT IS IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS TO ACCEPT 20 ETHNIC CHINESE LONGSTAYERS A MONTH UP TO A TOTAL OF 250 (PLEASE DO NOT (NOT) DISCLOSE THESE FIGURES) WE ARE ALSO SEEKING EXCO'S VIEWS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RASRO TRANSIT CENTRE, ARGUING THAT IT WOULD BE
IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS TO DO SO.
4. WE ARE THUS CONSIDERING EACH OF THESE PROPOSALS VERY SYMPATHETICALLY AND WE HOPE THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL
ADVISE IN FAVOUR. BUT WE CANNOT PRE-EMPT ITS ADVICE. THESE
MATTERS ARE SENSITIVE AND WE DO NOT (NOT) WISH TO RUSH THEM AND RISK IRRITATING MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
5. YOU COULD SAY THAT THESE TWO MATTERS ARE BEING VERY CAREFULLY AND VERY SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERED IN HONG KONG AND WE HOPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO RESPOND POSITIVELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
6. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, WE HOPE TO CONSULT EXCO ON 4 FEBRUARY.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD SEAD UND
PS/MR. RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR. W. HARDING MR. WILSON
COPIES TO,
HKGO- LONDON
MR. RAWSTHORNG-
CONFIDENTIAL
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