CONFIDENTIAL CORRECTED VERSION
MDLI
020150 1068
RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONGERS.
4. ON THE SEPARATE ISSUE OF RIGHT OF ABODE FOR HONG KONGERS IN AUSTRALIA BOTH EVANS AND HAND SAID THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH ANY SHEME ON THE SORT OF LINES WE ENVISAGED. EVANS EMPHASISED THE NON-DISCRIMINATORY NATURE OF AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION POLICY. HAND LISTED THE GROUPS INCLUDING CHINESE STUDENTS WHOM THE AUSTRALIANS HAD RECENTLY HAD TO ACCOMMODATE AND SAID A SPECIAL SCHEME FOR HONG KONGERS WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
5. HOWEVER EVANS SAID THAT INCREASED FLEXIBILITY IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING RULES WAS A POSSIBILITY. HE MENTIONED EMPLOYEES OF AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES OPERATING IN HONG KONG AND SAID THAT A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COULD PROBABLY BE ACCOMMODATED. THIS WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION BUT AUSTRALIA WOULD DO ITS BEST WITHOUT DAMAGING THE INTEGRITY OF ITS IMMIGRATION POLICY.
COMMENT
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6. WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS INFORMALLY WITH JOHN BLOUNT, HEAD OF REFUGEE SECTION, DFAT THE DIFFERENCES IN EMPHASIS BETWEEN EVANS AND HAND ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION. BLOUNT CLAIMED THERE WAS NO INCONSISTENCY IN THE TWO POSITIONS. AUSTRALIA'S COMMITMENT TO MANDATORY REPATRIATION REMAINED FIRM BUT ON PRACTICAL GROUNDS THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION WAS PUSHING FOR A POLICY THAT PLACED GREATER EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARY AND GREY AREA REPATRIATION. THEY WERE CONSIDERING IDEAS FOR COUNSELLING WITH THE AIM OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS. THERE WAS SCOPE FOR MORE COUNSELLING AT AN EARLY STAGE EVEN BEFORE THE SCREENING PROCESS GOT UNDERWAY. IF PEOPLE KNEW AT THE OUTSET THAT THEY FACED MANY YEARS IN A CAMP WITH NO HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT AT THE END OF IT THEY WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO VOLUNTEER TO RETURN HOME. AUSTRALIA WOULD BE READY TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS INCREASED COUNSELLING.
7. IF FURTHER MANDATORY REPATRIATIONS TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE IT SEEMS LESS LIKELY THAT WE COULD RELY ON SUPPORTIVE PUBLIC STATEMENTS FROM THE AUSTRALIANS. ON THE OTHER HAND WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO GO AS FAR AS THE AMERICANS IN TAKING A HOSTILE PUBLIC LINE.
COLES