TNAG-0972-FCO40-1191-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 42

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FM HONG KONG 090502Z JULY 88

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21

YOUR TELNO 543: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: M V HUPEN.

HONG KONG'S ROLE, LIKE THAT OF THE PHILIPPINES, HAS BEEN TO GIVE FIRST ASYLUM TO BOAT REFUGEES AND WE WOULD NOT WISH TO GIVE A GUARANTEE OF RESETTLEMENT HERE. HOWEVER, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO ALLOW ANY REFUGEES WHO HAD NOT BEEN RESETTLED FROM

THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A UNHCR CAMP HERE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE WOULD PREFER TO LEAVE THE PERIOD OPEN BUT

IF THE PHILIPPINES INSIST WE WOULD NOT WISH IT TO BE LESS THAN 3 MONTHS.

2. IF THIS IS THE BARGAIN, ANY FILIPINO SHIP WOULD BE TREATED SIMILARLY HERE.

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