OCMIAN 9442
CONFIDENTIAL
PP GEMIS
CONFIDENTIAL
59442 1
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DSTRY
26 SEP 1986
FM FCOLN TO GEMIS
RECEIVER
011545Z SEP
GRS 612
DES
INTE
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
PA
Mel
TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO 334
OF 011545Z SEPTEMBER 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, OTTAWA, TOKYO
INFO ROUTINE KUALA LUMPUR, BANGKOK, HANOI
OUR TELNO 319 AND YOUR TELNO 476: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
MINISTERS HAVE NOW AGREED THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE THE
STRATEGY OUTLINED IN PARAS 2-4 OF OUR TUR.GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NOW SPEAK TO COUNTERPARTS IN MISSIONS OF QUOTE HONOLULU GROUP UNQUOTE
MEMBERS AND UNHCR ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
(4)
(B)
IN VIEW OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG HMG REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF QUOTE BOAT PEOPLE UNQUOTE FROM VIETNAM. DESPITE CONTINUING OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG CAMPS, NEW ARRIVALS CONTINUE TO SWELL NUMBERS IN THE CAMPS. HONG KONG'S ARRIVAL RATE THIS YEAR IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE RATE OF LAST YEAR (1591 JANUARY-JULY 1986 COMPARED WITH 806
SAME PERIOD 1985). OF HONG KONG'S PRESENT CAMP
POPULATION OF 8582 (1 AUGUST), 64 PERCENT HAVE BEEN THERE
FOR OVER 3 YEARS.
PROBLEM NOT ONE AFFECTING HONG KONG ONLY: HMG ARE ALSO
CONCERNED AT ACCELERATING QUOTE COMPASSION FATIGUE
UNQUOTE AND GENERAL DESTABILISING EFFECT OF UNRESETTLABLE
INDOCHINESE IN CAMPS IN PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM THROUGHOUT
1
CONFIDENTIAL