CONFIDENTIAL
countries taking refugees since 1975 was headed by the United States and China, Hong Kong came 6th on the list and the United Kingdom 7th with offers to 4,497 refugees. This was a higher commitment than richer .countries such as the FRG and, notably, Japan. The
United Kingdom had also taken some 3,000 refugees from Latin America since 1974 and 9,000 from Cyprus. The Governor said Mr Hartling had asked Hong Kong to resettle 10,000 refugees. He had replied that this would have to be further discussed here (e.g. by LegCo or ExCo), but that he was fairly confident that this number could be accepted if it was part of a complete and adequate solution to the problem. There would be no possibility of Hong Kong accepting more without guarantees that a long term solution was being provided.
10.
After the Governor had re-emphasised that arguments about the United Kingdom's contribution were largely irrelevant, Ambassador Clark reiterated that he believed that these arguments were valid. Was the Governor satisfied with the United Kingdom programme but not with the United States programme? The Governor replied that numbers were certainly inadequate for Hong Kong in the United States programme, although overall the programme was remarkably generous. It was not fair to ask about the United Kingdom programme since it did not have comparable regional ties or a major resettlement programme, as had the United States. Although he was grateful for the increase in July to 800, he hoped Ambassador Clark would bear his comments in mind. He would report what had been said about the way the United Kingdom programme influenced the allocation of US quotas. However, it was essential that numbers should be related to what Hong Kong had done to maintain humanitarian policies and to the additional burden which it had received in consequence. He was constantly asked why the United States discriminated against Hong Kong and in favour of inhumane behaviour. Ambassador Clark said he was grateful that Hong Kong was the one place which continued to offer asylum.
Political Adviser's Office
Hong Kong
3rd July, 1979
CONFIDENTIAL/Distribution
4:1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.