CODE 18-77
[HK2AGE]
FA 243/508/1
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Ehrman
Mr Galsworthy
Mr Leeks O/R
Reference..
KJ21|10
Entir
Ente
49
Mur Nash (+9
BEM
1
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG:
(SPECIAL ASSISTANT, BUREAU FOR DEPARTMENT) MONDAY, 13 OCTOBER 1985
1.
MEETING WITH MR VAN REFUGEE PROGRAMS, us
meeting, organised by
EGMOND STATE
SEAD.
I attended part of this Mr Van Egmond was visiting London on his way back to Washington from Geneva, where he had been attending the UNHCR Executive Committee meeting. He made the following points on Hong Kong.
Resettlement
2.
The
tak e more refugees but their decision
Americans welcomed our decision to from Hong Kong. They wantd to be helpful, would probably depend partly on how many refugees we were prepared to take in addition to the 500; and on Hong Kong's willingness to absorb some of the refugees. They would need more information these points before reaching a decision, and would be pressing us for details.
3.
on
A "Blue Ribbon Panel" would be visiting South East Asia, including Hong Kong in November to look into refugee problems. (I understood from Mr Van Egmond that this was to s ome extent comparable to a Parliamentary Select Committee in the UK). Their report would be unlikely to be ready before the end of the year. The US's decision on resettlement from Hong Kong might be deferred to await this.
RASRO
4.
from
In Geneva, Mr Van Egmond and UNHCR officials (Feldmann and Cooper) had discussed with Mr Woodhouse a proposal by UNHOR that Hong Kong should provide a transit centre for refugeescued at
"but sea under the RASRO scheme who had not been resettled within the maximum 90 day period specified under the scheme. (We have since
received details of
this conversation in a telex Mr Woodhouse.) The Americans were
very much
favour of idea,
we would
to encourage Hong Kong
agree to Mr Van Egmond suggested we might discuss it with Mr Woodhouse on
18 October. I said
could of
but discuss it, could not predict how the Hong Kong Government would
idea.
and hoped
we
course
in
this
it.
that I
react to the
Chùa hơnthe
O Walker (Ms) Hong Kong Department WH 312
233 3988
16 October 1985
CC Mr Nash, SEAD
Mr Wildash, UND
Mr Adams, UKMIS Geneva
CONFIDENTIAL