Present:
CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD OF A MEETING AT THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, CANBERRA, 1 AUGUST 1979
Sir Jack Cater
Chief Secretary, Hong Kong Government
Mr JS Roycroft
Mr RW Furlonger
Director-General, Office of National Assessments, Canberra
Mr D Sadleir
D/DG (Political) ONA
Messrs Polomka
Bowan
Marginson ΟΝΑ Gingell Davies
1. In introducing a discussion on the refugee situation
Sir Jack Cater made the following points:
There were three categories of refugees in Hong Kong legal travellers from China (the majority of whom stayed); the illegal refugees from China (Hong Kong's capture rate had improved of late); and those from Vietnam.
The big refugee ships have attracted publicity but the small boats were the bigger problem.
Some of the Vietnamese refugees were clearly assisted and succoured by China. Some now came through Macau.
83% of the Vietnamese refugees were Chinese and more
than 61% came from North Vietnam.
China had accepted many refugees of Chinese origin but actual number not known (250,000 ?).
2.
In discussion Mr Polomka referred to the large numbers of persons who might wish to leave Vietnam. Talking to the Swedish Foreign Minister in Geneva, Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister, Phan Hien, had suggested 600 700,000 Chinese, 1 million former Thieu soldiers and 2 million formerly
associated with the US authorities. The recent Geneva
CONFIDENTIAL
/conference
Page 300Page 301
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.