OCMIAN 8060
UNCLASSIFIED
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
221530Z AUG
GRS 401
UNCLASSIFIED
PM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1808
OF 22153OZ AUGUST 86
UNCLASSIFIED
58060
1
HKK 243
RECEIVED IN REGISTAY!
26 AU_12986
INOYX
MIPT: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF THE AUSTRALIAN PAPER.
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
BEGINS.
AUSTRALIA HAS DECIDED THAT ITS PLANNING FIGURE FOR THE INTAKE OF
INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG SHOULD REMAIN AT 400 IN
1986/87.
AUSTRALIA'S DECISION TO INCREASE ITS INTAKE OF INDO-CHINESE
REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG IN 1985/86 FROM 400 TO 600 WAS A ONE-OFF
DECISION IN RESPONSE TO BRITAIN'S DECISION TO ACCEPT SOME 500 PERSONS WITH CONNECTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. OUR REFERENCE
TO A POSSIBLE FURTHER ALLOCATION OF 200 PLACES TO HONG KONG IN 1985/86 DID NOT EVENTUATE SINCE OUR OVERALL INDO-CHINA PROGRAM
WAS FULLY COMMITTED FROM ELSEWHERE.
AUSTRALIA IS CONCERNED AT THE RECENT INCREASE IN ARRIVALS OF
VIETNAMESE IN HONG KONG. WE NOTE THAT NORTHERN VIETNAMESE
CONTINUE TO CONSTITUTE THE MAJORITY OF THESE ARRIVALS.
SHARE THE SCEPTICISM OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE
CLAIMS OF THESE ARRIVALS TO BE REFUGEES.
WE
AUSTRALIAN MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED THAT FUTURE REACTION TO REQUESTS FOR RE-SETTLEMENT IN AUSTRALIA OF INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WILL BE HEAVILY DEPENDANT UPON THE UNITED KINGDOM'S- GIVING A SIGNIFICANT LEAD BY BECOMING A LEADING RESETTLEMENT
I
UNCLASSIFIED
(135.
*GISTRY |Ageluh (åken