TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 134

CODE 18-77

to >>>

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

HIL

H of C

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

HKCK 243/5

АКК

RECOVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

29 MAY 1980

DESK DINCEN INDEX

WP

PA

I REGISTRY

Action Taken

AN 29/1

May I refer to my minute of 14 May and Hong Kong telegram no. 3. I took Dr Stumpf and Miss Lec to cell on Mr de Graaf, Assistant Director for General Affairs at the MPA, on 27 May.

Dr Stumpf and Miss Lee' cxplained succinctly the difficulties with which Hong Kong was confronted over Vietnemose refugees, population pressures, competition for resources etc. Dr Stampf added a third and cogent point. Hong Kong fulfilled a traditional and valuable function as the bridge between China and the West. But precedent pointed to the improbability of the Chinese Government standing idly by in the event of unrest in Hong Kong involving Chinese, So far the inhabitants of Hong

Kong had tolerated the presence of 70-80,000 Vietnamese refugees although some of the land occupied by the refugees was valuable and was urgently needed for building projects, schools etc. There were, however, signs that Chinese in Hong Kong were becoming restive at the slow progress in getting Vietnamese refugees resettlod; and this would increase if there were no sign of movement in the next few months.

3. Mr de Graaf explained the background to Dutch policy over refugees, their reliance on recommendations from the UNHCR about the countries from which they should be accepted, the number admitted in 1979, (2,300 including 1,300 Vietnamese rescued by Dutch flag vessels in the South China Sea etc.). The UNHCR would shortly be putting in writing their recom- mendations about the refugees to be accepted by the Netherlands in 1980. He had to phrase himself carefully "but there had been some indications" that. Hong Kong would, for the first time, be included in the territories and countries from which the Netherlands would be asked to take refugees for resettlement. Mr de Graaf thought that the Dutch Government would give a positive response to any such request, though constitutionally he could not say any more until the matter had been considered by the Dutch Ministers. In particular he could give no indication of the numbers that might be involved.

4. There was, however, one aspect on which he, Mr de Great, could say a little more. The usual quote" of refugees the Dutch undertook to accept in any one year was 750 (special pilovenor had, as all knew, boen made in the past for Vietnamono), In this total of 750 allowrence was made for approximately 450 "fasily reunions"; and these would now include Vietnamese encep where the rol-tions concerned were living in Vietnam (becauso of the difficulty of getting exit vises). It was expected that

CONFIDENTIT

/approximately

GO