CONFIDENTIAL
+---
+-
50389
OCMIAN 0389
CONFIDENTIAL
OO BANGK
00 KULUM
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
160900Z JUL
GRS 213
RECEN
[:
IND:
HKK 243/11
243/11
23 JUL 1986
Y
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1464
OF 160900Z JULY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, HANOI, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR
YOUR TELNO
12
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
TUR ARRIVED AFTER PROPOSALS SUMMARISED IN OUR TELNO 1346
HAD ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS. HOWEVER, OUR SUBMISSION
INCLUDED REFERENCE TO A PROBABLE FALL IN US OFFTAKE FROM THIS
AUTUMN AS FORESHADOWED IN YOUR PREVIOUS TELS. MINISTERS HAVE SINCE
AGREED TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE SHALL NOW:
(A)
(B)
2.
APPROACH HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS ON THE NEED FOR A
CONTINUED UK OFFTAKE FROM HONG KONG, AND
EXAMINE IN DETAIL HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED TO CONSULT WITH
RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND OTHERS ON THE LONGTERM PROBLEM
OF 'ECONOMIC REFUGEES'.
WE SHALL KEEP YOU ABREAST OF PROGRESS. WE DO NOT FEEL IT
FOLLOWS FROM THE ADMITTEDLY BLEAK PROGNOSIS IN TUR THAT AN APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE, AS OPPOSED TO THE ACTION AT (B) ABOVE, IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION. IN APPROVING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS MINISTERS AGAIN EMPHASISED THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH
THEY SAW IN A UNILATERAL APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE. BUT IN
PURSUING THE COURSE APPROVED BY MINISTERS, WE SHALL KEEP VERY MUCH IN MIND YOUR CONCERNS FOR HONG KONG'S RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS
1
CONFIDENTIAL
/ IN
13