IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
GRPS 220
FM HONG KONG 190740Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 190830Z
CONFIDENTIAL
·REC.
REGISTR N 92
19 MAY 1975
NICKI8/25
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 490 OF 19 MAY.
Leer
REF.
FOR HK I O D.
EX
REF.
98
Соб
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 390: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.
2. WE SHOULD PREFER A SLIGHTLY EXPANDED ANSWER WHICH WOULD BE HELPFUL LOCALLY SINCE IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE U.K. GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN TO PLAY ITS PART IN RESETTLEMENT. I HOPE THAT THE FOLLOWING RE-DRAFT WILL NOT CONFLICT WITH THE VIEWS ALREADY
EXPRESSED BY H.M.G.
BEGINS: ''THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS PERMITTED 3,909 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO LAND IN HONG KONG. THESE HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY ACCOMMODATED IN SPECIAL CAMPS WHERE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED. I SHOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE RISEN SO WELL TO THE EMERGENCY.
ABOUT 95% OF THE REFUGEES DO NOT WISH TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. ACCORDINGLY WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH BOTH IN CAPITALS AND LOCALLY IN HONG KONG THROUGH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WITH SOME 20 COUNTRIES IN THE HOPE THAT PERMANENT HOMES FOR THE BULK OF THE REFUGEES NOW IN HONG KONG MAY BE FOUND IN THOSE COUNTRIES. THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL OF COURSE PLAY ITS PART IN THIS HUMANITARIAN OPERATION BY ACCEPTING SOME REFUGEES, PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY HAVE LINKS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM.'' ENDS.
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Joy
COPIES TO:
H.K. GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
ра
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