TNAG-0949-FCO40-1168-Effect-of-nuclear-exports-to-China-on-Hong-Kong-Guangdong-nu-1980 — Page 36

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CUNT TDENTIAL

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

4. On 21 July there were still 38,721 Vietnamese refugees in

Hong Kong. The rate of off-take from Hong Kong is the slowest of

all countries of first asylum in the region, due largely to Hong

Kong's humanitarian policy, which compares favourably with its South-East Asian neighbours. As a result, many resettlement

countries give priority to refugees from elsewhere. The net off-

take has been particularly slow in recent weeks due to an increase

in the rate of arrivals.

UK/HONG KONG AIR SERVICES

5.

Mr Nott's decision announced on 18 June to license all four

applicants on the London to Hong Kong route (British Airways, the

former sole carrier, British Caledonian, Cathay Pacific and Laker)

has been generally welcomed in Hong Kong and has alleviated the

resentment caused by the CAA's decision to license only British

Caledonian in addition to British Airways. (The Hong Kong Air

Transport Licensing Authority had earlier awarded a license to both

BCal and Cathay Pacific.)

VISIT BY LORD CARRINGTON TO THE FAR EAST

5. The Secretary of State will be in Hong Kong from 26 to 28

September, as part of a visit to the Far East (China and Japan).

This has not yet been announced.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

24 July 1980

IDENTIAL