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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
cune
7
wilt Sir P Goodhart
The Out of
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Telephone 01- 233 5073
Christopher Wilton Esq
TOKYO
Dear Christopher
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Your reference
Our reference
Date 14 November 1986
TK 243/4-
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 8 NOV 1986
FICER
PA
REISTRY
Acuon Taken
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1/12
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. I attach copies of a recent exchange between Sir Philip Goodhart MP and Mr Renton. This letter concerns the proposal in the latter part of Sir P Goodhart's paper "Closed camps and closed hearts" that Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong be resettled in Indonesia and the Philippines under a programme funded by the Japanese Government.
2.
Sir P Goodhart made a similar proposal last year (FCO telno 286 to Tokyo dated 20 June 1985; Tokyo telno 461 and Manila telno 169).
Informal soundings taken at the time by yourselves and by Manila showed a lack of enthusiasm or serious interest by the Japanese and the Filipinos for the idea.
3.
It would be easy to dismiss Sir P Goodhart's proposal, and the obstacles to it are indeed formidable. It is worth noting, however, that Mr Renton (and last year Mr Luce) have been concerned to give the idea a fair wind. This is particularly true now, as another year has gone by without the traditional durable solutions offering any real way out for the burden placed on Hong Kong by the Vietnamese boat people.
4.
I should therefore be grateful if you, Manila and Jakarta could once again take discreet soundings on Sir P Goodhart's proposal. It would certainly appear to be the case that the Japanese would find it easier to demonstrate their concern over the refugee issue in terms of cash rather than in finding resettlement places for the refugees. The problem would therefore seem to be one of exploring ways in which the Japanese funds could be put to good use. With the new government in the Philippines and their desperate need for economic assistance, would Sir P
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