CONFIDENTIAL
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MDLIAN 7394
OF 04015OZ
FEBRUARY 88
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
PERSONAL FOR HUM,
HKD
VISIT OF SIR BRIAN CUBBON
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
DURING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG, SIR BRIAN CUBBON WAS BRIEFED BY THE
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ON THE CURRENT REFUGEE SITUATION AND IN PARTICULAR OUR CONCERNS ABOUT DWINDLING RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS. SIR
BRIAN SUBSEQUENTLY VISITED TUEN MUN CLOSED CENTRE AND KAI TAK OPEN
CENTRE ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR CORRECTIONAL
SERVICES, UNHCR CHARGE DE MISSION AND PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR SECURITY.
2. DURING THE BRIEFING AND THE VISIT TO THE CAMPS WE EMPHASISED THE
FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) THE WIDELY PERCEIVED NEED FOR THE UK TO GIVE THE LEAD ON
RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG:
(B) THE UK'S CURRENT PROGRAMME OFFERING RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR 468
NAMED INDIVIDUALS ON THE BASIS OF EXTENDED FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA
WAS GENERALLY SEEN BY OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AS NOT (NOT)
GIVING THE REQUISITE LEAD (ADMITTEDLY AN EXCUSE FOR THEIR NOT DOING
MORE THEMSELVES):
(C) THE FACT THAT ATLEAST 52 OF THE NAMED INDIVIDUALS ON THE UK
LIST WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY HAD MEANWHILE BEEN RESETTLED
ELSEWHERE OR HAD BEEN FOUND ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO BE OUTSIDE
THE CRITERIA. THE UK COULD, WITHOUT INCREASING ITS RESETTLEMENT COMMITMENT IN NUMERICAL TERMS, FILL UP THESE VACATED PLACES WITH :
(I) PREVIOUS UK REFUSAL CASES:
(II) OTHER REFUGEES WHO FULFIL THE EXTENDED FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA:
(III) REHABILITATED LONG-STAYERS: OR
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