GS1ASN
CONFIDENTIAL
SIR W HARDING'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
18 FEBRUARY 1986
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
14 FEB 1986
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
Points to Make
1. Seriously concerned about Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong. UK is accepting 500 more, and Hong Kong 250
more,
refugees
from
the
camps.
Hong Kong
will
also
establish a transit centre for ship rescue cases. ..ope US
can respond to these
refugees
from Hong Kong.
initiatives by accepting more
Background
General
1.
9,300 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong awaiting
resettlement,
more than in any
other place of first asylum.
he refugees are spending increasingly long periods in Hong
Kong: 60% have been there over 3 years.
Recent Initiatives
2.
HMG has agreed to resettle some 500 more refugees (40
per month),
of
this
mostly
To maximise from Hong Kong.
the effect
other
countries
to
take
more
I t
i s too early to know how many
we are pressing
refugees from Hong Kong. will accept more refugees (Australia and Canada have agreed
to take 200 and 50 more respectively).
3.
Hong Kong agreed refugees (20 per month)
transit
centre
for
on 6
from the
refugees
to February
and camps,
rescued at
accept
sed.
some 250
to establish a
We are
instructing Posts, including Washington,
CONFIDENTIAL
to urge their hosts
83