TNAG-0556-FCO40-651-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-othe-1975 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL

13 MAY 1975

RECEIVED IN

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Aid to Refugees from Vietnam

Since my return from Kingston and Washington, I have been m

looking urgently at the problem of the refugees from the war

in Vietnam who have arrived by a variety of means in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has coped with the situation so far but clearly

the strain on their social services is very considerable,

particularly bearing in mind the fact that Hong Kong absorbs

36,000 legal immigrants from China every year, not to speak of

illegal immigrants who escape the vigilance of the immigration

authorities. A permanent home, outside Hong Kong (where there

In not Vietnamese element), must be found for these unfortunat、

people and I am in touch with the American, Canadian, Australiana,

New Zealand, Danish and Swedish Governments about this.

Hong Kong has not so far asked for any financial help from

an. for emergency relief work but the Governor has naturally

drawn attention to the fact that it will be easier for the people

of Hong Kong to accept the burden if they believe that HMG are

doing all they can to help. 1 understand that £250,000 of the

/£1 million

CONFIDENTIAL