TNAG-0877-FCO40-1087-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 44

11. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED BY

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS FALLEN FAR SHORT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED, IF THE PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES IS TO BE HANDLED SUCCESS- FULLY IN A HUMANE AND ORDERLY FASHION. ONLY INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THIS AND A DETERMINED AND SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS ACCEPTED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE OVERSEAS CAN HELP HONG KONG'S PROBLEM.

12. QUITE APART FROM THE HUEY FONG HONG KONG NOW HAS NEARLY 5,200 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AWAITING RESETTLEMENT, ABOUT HALF OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR THREE MONTHS AND SOME OVER TWELVE MONTHS. IT IS A MATTER OF CONCERN THAT FOR JANUARY IT IS LIKELY THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL ONLY PROVIDE ABOUT 170 RESETTLEMENT PLACES OVERSEAS FOR REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.

MACLEHOSE

}

FILES

HK & GD

UND

SEAD

WED

SAD

MID (E)

FUSU

P3/MR.LUARD PS/PUS SIR A.DUFF MR.CORTAZZI MR.VEIR MR.MURRAY

COPIES TO:

MR.BIRT, HO.,LUNAR HOUSE, CROYDON. MR. BURLEIGH, HO.,QUEEN ANNE'S

GATE

HONG KONG GOVT.OFFICE, LONDON.

ΟΙ

IPD

MVS D

MVD

PS

FS/LORD GORONIE ROBERTS

· 3 ·