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CONFIDENTIAL
3.
we
To maximise the effect of our decision and Hong Kong's,
are pressing other resettlement countries to take
additional refugees from Hong Kong. It is too early yet to
know how many will respond with concrete offers of
resettlement places; So far Australia (200 refugees),
Canada (50), Finland (70), the Netherlands (80) New Zealand
(10) and Sweden (100) have offered specific increases. The
US, which resettles more Indo-Chinese refugees than any other country, is currently accepting refugees at an annual
rate of some 1,800, 200 more than the previous year's
Several other countries (including Belgium,
and Greece) are likely to respond
ceiling.
Denmark, Luxembourg
favourably.
French Position
4.
total intake of 98,700
record of resettlement
France has accepted some 1600 Vietnamese refugees from
Hong Kong since 1975, out of a
Indo-Chinese refugees. France's from Hong Kong since 1984 of 155 refugees
refugees is the best in
Europe (UK resettlement was at a low level in these years).
France's creditable performance reflects its historical
links
with
Indo-China,
and
the
existence
of
in France may
long-established Indo-Chinese communities
facilitate further resettlement from Hong Kong.
5.
However, the initial French response to the Embassy's
first approach in October 1985 was discouraging; the French
stressed that only a very small number of refugees could be
accepted, but undertook
re-examine outstanding
applications for resettlement
to
from refugees in Hong Kong.
M. Ross (Secretary General at the Quai) told the PUS in
October that fmaily reunion cases and French-speaking
refugees were the most likely to be accepted; there are
about 135 refugees in these categories in Hong Kong. The French also indicated that they would consider accepting unaccompanied minors, on humanitarian grounds.
CONFIDENTIAL