GRS 400
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 689
OF 050945Z MARCH 86
Restricted
TOP COPY
28
YOUR TELNO 427 : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : CLOSED CAMPS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TUP.
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2. WE AGREE WITH YOUR DRAFT REPLY, WHICH WE THINK STRIKES THE
CORRECT BALANCE BETWEEN THE FREEDOM WHICH WE ALLOW RELIGIOUS
ORGANISATIONS AND OUR CONCERN ABOUT EVANGELICAL APPROACHES.
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3. AS YOU ARE AWARE, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT RELIGIONS ARE PRACTICED FREELY IN EACH OF THE CLOSED CENTRES. MINISTERS VISIT
THEIR CONGREGATION AND SERVICES APE HELD REGULAPLY.
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4. BUDDIST MONKS VISIT THE CLOSED CENTPES AND RELIGIOUS SERVICES
APE HELD WHEN REQUIRED. TWO BUDDIST MONKS APE PEUGEEES IN CHI
MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE AND ONE, WHO HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED BY JVA,
HAS ASKED TO REMAIN IN CHI MA WAN UNTIL ALL OF THE OTHER PEFUGEES
HAVE BEEN RESETTLED''. WE THINK THAT THE AMERICANS WILL PROBABLY
ACCEPT THIS BUDDIST MONK FOR RESETTLEMENT AND WE HAVE PASSED ON
HIS REQUEST TO THEM. WE HAVE NOT HAD A DEFINITE REPLY BUT WE THINK
THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO OBLIGE.
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5. OTHER RELIGIONS PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE WISHES OF THOSE CONCERNED. WE HAVE HAD AN APPROACH FROM THE BAHA'S WHICH WE HAVE TREATED CAUTIOUSLY. THEY HAVE EXPLAINED THAT MEMBERS OF THEIR
FAITH CAN BE RESETTLED IN CANADA. WE APE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT THEY MIGHT TPADE ON THIS IN ORDER TO SEEK CONVERTS. NEVERTHELESS,
WE HAVE AGREED TO ALLOW THEM TO VISIT MEMBERS OF THEIR
PELIGION IN THE CLOSED CENTRES.
6. WE CARRIED OUT AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELIGIONS PRACTICED BY THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR. THE RESULTS ARE AS
FOLLWS:
HKK 243/4.
(A) ANCESTRAL WORSHIP
4139
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
(B) BUDDIST
2243
(C) CATHOLIC
1285
(D) CHRISTIAN
271
(E) ISLAM/TAQIST
38
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
O 5MAR 1986
REGISTRY
Action Taken
(F) ANIMIST
(G) NO RELIGION
4
2050
TOTAL
10039
Restricted
7).