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10 SEP.986
GRS 275 CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2251
Confidential
OF 041445Z SEPTEMBER 86
INFO ROUTINE CANBERRA, HONG KONG, OTTAWA, TOKYO, UKMIS GENEVA
139
YOUR TELNO 1530: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1. MINISTER TOOK ACTION ON TUR ON 3 SEPTEMBER WITH FUNSETH (ACTING DIRECTOR, BUREAU FOR REFUGEE PROGRAMMES, STATE). 2. FUNSETH SAID THAT THE HONGLULU GROUP WAS AN INFORMAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP ORIGINALLY COMPRISING THE FOUR MAJOR RESETTLE- MENT COUNTRIES (US, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, FRANCE) WITH JAPAN AS A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR AND THE UNHCR. FRANCE HAD DRIFTED AWAY BUT WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF RENEWED INTEREST. IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RESETTLEMENT BASE COULD BE BROADENED BY CO- OPTING OTHER PARTICIPANTS. THE US WERE PLEASED TO HAAR OF UK INTEREST IN PLAYING A MORE ACTIVE PART IN THESE CONSULTATIONS. IT MIGHT NOW BE APPROPRIATE TO BROADEN THE GROUP. THE US WOULD CONSULT THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND RESPOND FORMALLY IN DUE COURSE. 3. FUNSETH ASKED POINTEDLY WHETHER THIS SHOW OF INTEREST INDICATED ANY INTENTION TO INCREASE UK RESETTLEMENT. REPLIED ON THE LINES SUGGESTED IN TUR.
JENKINS
4. JENKINS REMINDED FUNSETH OF OUR JUNE DEMARCHE ABOUT US RESETTLEMENT CRITERIA (OUR TELNO 1665), AND ASKED ABOUT PROGRESS WITH THE RAY PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS. FUNSETH SAID THAT STATE HAD JUST PRODUCED A COMMENTARY ON THE RAY PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALSO THEIR 1986 WORLD REFUGEE REPORT (COPIES OF BOTH BY BAG TO LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA AND HONG KONG). THE EMPHASIS REMAINED ON INCREASED APPLICATION OF NORMAL IMMIGRATION CRITERIA, AS THE RAY PANEL HAD RECOMMENDED. SHULTZ WOULD BE TESTIFYING ON 11 AND 16 SEPTEMBER BEFORE THE HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES. THE WAY WOULD THEN BE CLEAR FOR STATE TO CONSIDER DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION.
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Confidential