j
に
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3.
Nonetheless, Japan's policy was to cooperate in efforts to alleviate the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees, and was already providing funds to UNHCR (he said some £5.5 m
£5.5 m annually since 1979) and was accepting refugees both as a resettlement country and as a place of first asylum. Japan was fully prepared to act in proportion with other countries' efforts, and hoped that other countries would understand the problems it faced in doing so. Japan was prepared to give consideration to Hong Kong's difficult situation, and understood Hong
problems fully. Kong's
Seki said that
had Japan resettled more Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong than from anywhere else in the region except Thailand. However, few
in refugees in
Hong Kong had Japan, and very few really wanted to be resettled there. In addition, many refugees were sufficiently qualified to lead
self-reliant
in life
Japan; some of those resettled in Japan had resorted to crime, which did not favourable help the Government's efforts to create a more attitude towards Vietnamese amongst Japanese people.
a
this
year
relatives
4. Seki said that Japan would send another resettlement mission
it to Hong
would Kong
and that
He asked interpret the selection criteria more flexibly. that the Hong Kong Government consult with UNHCR and any other agencies concerned to ensure that the Mission had lists of refugees who desired to be resettled in Japan, and who
If this well-qualified.
done, Japan could accept more refugees.
5.
were
was
However, if every country with such difficulties
similar
The
no
be and
I thanked Seki
Seki for his detailed response and said that the difficulties he had
well-known. decided were
took a
stance
to
ever would Japan's,
refugees resettled.
UK had far higher unemployment, greater racial problems, than Japan. (I also pointed out that land
in Japan). was more scarce in Hong Kong than If all resettlement countries were as selective as Japan,
be left with Kong would Hong unresettlable refugees. I acknowledged Japan's financial
but to UNHCR,
said
not the that money was had
say that Japan could not
Japan could professed willingness
contribution
only answer; I people questioning
to its
a large
number
of
to
avoid help
solve the refugee problem, if it continued to resettle so few from Hong Kong.
I welcomed the prospect of another Japanese mission
6. to
Hong Kong
would
this
year,
and
Seki's
resettlement interpret Japan's
that it
assertion criteria flexibly;
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