TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 116

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Indo-Chinese Refugees

HKK 2431

43 in Jakarta on 15/16 May 1979

#DEX

Objectives

Hong Kong Brief

HICH GD (67)

for Quantrill +abo

Mr Mehaven (6G9j

and

F.y.i. aur (670)

Əvieńann

17.5

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

To secure agreement in principle that refugees from Hong Kong are eligible for transfer to the proposed Special Processing Centre (S P C) on the Indonesian island of Galang.

To impress the magnitude of Hong Kong's refugee problem on those present, especially representatives of UNHCR and major resettlement countries.

To get a clearer picture of A SE A N thinking about this, or other, S P Cs.

To emphasize the importance of maintaining closer links with ASEAN on the refugee problem, including information on refugee movements, especially in organised ocean- going ships.

To support moves by ASEAN and UNHCR to achieve a more orderly outflow from Vietnam.

Line to take and tactics

2.

Vietnamese refugees are a regional problem. Solutions should also be regional. It is not right that Hong Kong, a major sufferer from the refugee influx, should be excluded. Public opinion would not understand such a move and would become even more hostile to the idea of accepting refugees. Hong Kong does not seek a large number of places in the S P C. The Indonesians were relieved at our mention of "symbolic" numbers. At present we see these as being up to, but not more than, 500 for a camp no larger than 10,000.

3.

Provided Hong Kong is not excluded from this S PC it will be prepared to consider making an appropriate financial contribution towards setting it up.

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