TNAG-0586-FCO40-719-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 70

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CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..........................

Mr Morgan UND

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2

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ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES IN INDO-CHINA

1. Your Minute of 16 July refers.

2. As you have observed, Mr Etherington-Smith's fourth point (paragraph 1(d) of your draft Submission) presents difficulties for Hong Kong. I think that these difficulties might be spelled out a little more and accordingly I suggest an amended version of paragraph 3 of the Submission as follows:-

"Point (d) above is particularly difficult for us because of our responsibilities in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government feel, with a good deal of justification, that they have done much for Vietnamese refugees. They accepted over 4,000 last year after the fall of South Vietnam while arrangements were made for their permanent resettlement (most eventually went elsewhere, particularly to the United States, but some remained in Hong Kong). They have had to absorb 4,000-5,000 Vietnamese who have since made their way to Hong Kong illegally, More recently, they have allowed 16 Vietnamese, picked up by a British ship, to land in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government face special diffi- culties because they have been obliged since late 1974 to return Chinese illegal immigrants to China owing to the intolerable strain they were creating on essential services in the Colony. Hong Kong has also come to be seen as a haven for refugees from South East Asia generally, and the problem of illegal immigration from countries in the region is a constant worry. We are not, therefore, well-placed to meet Mr Etherington-Smith's request, so far as Hong Kong is concerned, and I think we should be careful not to undertake to do as he suggests."

I also suggest you amend the relevant paragraph of the letter to Mr Etherington-Smith to read:-

3.

"Vietnamese refugees who have put to sea in small boats present a particularly difficult problem which I discussed with the High Commissioner for Refugees when he visited the United Kingdom last month. He mentioned that he might initiate a special plan, akin to the "Tenor More "Plan" to help in the resettlement of these unfortunate people. We are, of course, directly concerned, because of our responsibilities in Hong Kong. I think it is fair to point out that the Hong Kong Government have done much in this field. They accepted over 4,000 refugees last year after the fall of South Vietnam, while arrangements were made for their permanent resettlement; some of these refugees remained in Hong Kong. Since then Hong Kong has had to absorb 4,000-5,000 Vietnamese who have made their way there illegally. Hong Kong faces very serious immigration problems of its own and it has become increasingly difficult to accept further refugees. More generally, we have always hoped that our own actions would encourage other governments to react as positively as possible when faced with refugee problems. Where appropriate, we do, of course, try to encourage other governments to be as helpful as they can."

4.

I agree

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