CONFIDENTIAL
65680
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RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMES. THIS CREATES SEVERE DIFFICULTIES FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS FACED WITH PROSPECT OF A LARGE (AND POSSIBLY INCREASING) GROUP OF UNRESETTLABLE REFUGEES IN ITS CAMPS.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE WOULD WELCOME OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER JOINTLY AND INFORMALLY WITH MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND UNHCR WHAT MIGHT BE DONE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM OF CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM, IN ORDER TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON HONG KONG. 5.
UNDERSTAND INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS ALREADY TAKING PLACE PERIODICALLY IN GENEVA BETWEEN LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES OF US, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN AND UNHCR WHICH ADDRESS SAME SORTS OF CONCERNS AS WE HAVE. IF YOU AGREE WE FEEL IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD BE INLCUDED EARLY IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE HAVE MADE THIS POINT IN CAPITALS CONCERNED AND WITH RELEGANT DELEGATIONS IN GENEVA.
DEFENSIVE
6.
(WHAT SOLUTION DO HMG HAVE IN MIND?) NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS. PLAINLY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS PROBLEM POSED BY CONTINUING FLOW FROM VIETNAM OF PEOPLE MOTIVATED IN SOME CASES MORE BY ECONOMIC REASONS THAN BY POLITICAL PERSECUTION.
7.
(WOULD HMG VIEW INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION?) VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS ALWAYS THE PREFERRED SOLUTION. CLEARLY INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WOULD RAISE DIFFICULT POLITICAL AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES.
8.
(WOULD HMG BE IN FAVOUR OF DISCUSSIONS WITH VIETNAMESE? ) TOO EARLY TO SAY. WOULD WISH TO HEAR VIEWS OF OTHER MEMBERS. 9.
(INVOLVE OTHERS EG COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM IN OUR DISCUSSIONS?) WISH TO HEAR VIEWS OF GROUP MEMBERS FIRST. FEEL THERE MIGHT HOWEVER BE MERIT IN INVOLVING FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES AT A LATER STAGE.
10.
(FURTHER UK RESETTLEMENT? ) WE ARE NOW CLOSE TO COMPLETING OUR COMMITMENT IN REPLY TO SCORRI LAST YEAR TO RESETTLE UP TO 500 ADDITIONAL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE. ARE CONSIDERING WHAT FURTHER MEASURES MIGHT BE
TAKEN TO HELP HONG KONG.
HOWE
LIMITED
HKD.
UND
SEAD
DR. WILSON.
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CONFIDENTIAL