OCMIAN 8059
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
22150OZ AUG
GRS 219
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1807
OF 22150OZ AUGUST 86
CONFIDENTIAL
-58059.
1
HKK 243
Lis
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: AUSTRALIAN POLICY
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1. BENSON, MINISTER AT THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, CALLED ON HKD ON 19 AUGUST TO HAND OVER A PAPER TEXT IN MIFT ABOUT
DECISIONS TAKEN BY MINISTERS IN CANBERRA ON THE REFUGEE ISSUE. 2. BENSON, WHO SAID HE WAS SPEAKING ON INSTRUCTIONS, ADDED THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO LOOK
CLOSELY AT REFUGEE INFLOWS WAS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION. THOUGH
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAD FOR THE MOST PART DONE WELL IN AUSTRALIA,
THEIR ABSORPTION HAD AN ECONOMIC COST. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
WERE ALSO CONCERNED NOT TO UPSET THE RACIAL BALANCE OF THEIR
POPULATION.
3. LAYDEN TOLD BENSON THAT WE, TOO, WERE CONCERNED AT PRESENT TRENDS IN HONG KONG, AND THAT BRITISH MINISTERS WOULD BE CONSIDERING THE QUESTION NEXT MONTH. THE PRESENT FCO OFFICIAL VIEW WAS THAT RENEWED INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATION WOULD BE NEEDED, WITH SCREENING AND POSSIBLE REPATRIATION AMONG THE OPTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED, AND THAT THE UK'S HAND IN DISCUSSING THIS WOULD BE STRENGHENED IF WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RESETTLE REFUGEES FROM
HONG KONG AT ABOUT THE PRESENT RATE FOR SOME TIME.
YOUNG
OCMIAN 8059
BOAT PEOPLE
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NEWS D
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