RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 0850
OF 29010OZ FEBRUARY 88
HUD 243/12
REST RESTRICTED
TRICT
FEB 1988
134745
MDHIAN 9532
TOP COPY
FROM PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
16,
FCO 525 TO HONG KONG : VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : UK RESETTLEMENT
PROGRAMME.
•
1 LORD GLENARTHUR DISCUSSED THE REFUGEE PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNOR, HKG OFFICIALS ON 27 FEBRUARY. HE IS CLEAR THAT THE CURRENT POLITICAL
ATMOSHPHERE IN HK IS SUCH THAT A FAILURE TO MAKE UP THE NUMBERS TO
THE PUBLICLY COMMITTED FIGURGE OF 468 WOULD HAVE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCE
IN A SEPARATE CONVERSATION LYDIA DUNN EMPHASISED THAT ANY APPARENT
BACKTRACKING BY HMG ON ITS COMMITMENT TO RESETTLE REFUGEES WOULD BE
USED AS AN EXCUSE BY OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES.
2. DURING THEIR MEETING HKG OFFICIALS RAISED WITH LORD GLENARTHUR
THE POSITION OF THE 130 REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WHO IN THE PAST HAD
REFUSED OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK (IN THE VAIN HOPE OF GETTING
TO THE USA) AND WHO WOULD AS A CONSEQUENCE NOW BE INELIGIBLE FOR
RESETTLEMENT ANYWHERE, LORD GLENARTHUR BELIEVES THAT A DECISION TO
TAKE UP THE FULL 468 WOULD HAVE MUCH GREATER PRESENTATIONAL IMPACT
ON HONG KONG OPINION IF IT COULD INCLUDE AT LEAST A NUMBER OF THESE
130. HE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE MEETING ON 29 FEBRUARY COULD ADDRESS
THIS POINT. HE WOULD WELCOME A REPORT (TO KATHMANDU) ON THE OUTCOME.
3. PLEASE ADVANCE TO PS/MR RENTON (HOME OFFICE).
WILSON
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