TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 111

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Mr Cortazzi

DESK DOUA PA

INDEX

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: UK LOBBYING OF OTHER GOVERNMENTS

1.

You asked to see the Hong Kong Government's comments on the visit by Home Office officials to Hong Kong and their report that they could only select 412 people for resettlement in this country. (Your minute of 22 March and Mr Simpson-Orlebar's minute of 21 March.)

2.

Disi

E

315

You should see

(a)

b

FCO telegram No 108 to Hong Kong Hong Kong telegram No 213;

(c) Hong Kong telegram No 214

and

3. The crux of the problem is on the one hand that the Home Office are insisting on high standards, and on the other that few of the refugees have Britain as their first choice. As Mr Murray suggested in his minute of 22 March, it may take a little time for the word to spread that Britain is a "good" country for resettlement but I should not expect the Home Office officials to have much difficulty in finding volunteers to complete our quota of 1,000 when they return in the summer.

4. You may also like to glance at the attached EXCO memorandum seeking approval for the construction of further camps for refugees. It shows that the Hong Kong Government are well aware that there are disadvantages as well as advantages in allowing refugees to work (paragraph 4 of Mr Simpson-Orlèbar's minute of 21 March).

витами

27 March 1979

Copies to

Mr Murray

Mr Simpson-Orebar, UN Dept

RJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

In the inreciate future the problems

of refugees

+

immy ration

the most important issues

Hany Rang

full

ане

lithely to be

in relation

to

+ it is essential that we pay attention to then. They should be

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