TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 173

3.

You will know that Mr MacKellar has changed portfolios and is now Minister for Health. He has been succeeded by Mr MacPhee whom I think neither you nor Sir Jack Cater know. He was Minister for Productivity during Sir Jack Cater's visit. Since Mr MacPhee will soon be taking decisions about the next programme year, you or Sir Jack might find it helpful to write. to him personally. We should be glad to deliver your letter, which should be addressed to "The Hon Ian MacPhee MP, Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs". You might begin by thanking him for the progress the Australians are making in taking the promised thousand refugees and continue by suggesting he might find it helpful to have by him, in considering Australia's attitude to refugees from Hong Kong in the next programme year, an indication of the acute problems caused to Hong Kong by the influx. We have pointed out, but you may wish to re-emphasise, that the Australian "ethnic Chinese brothers" argument is based on a misunderstanding. You could mention that you are aware of the short-term difficulties posed by the arrival of large numbers of refugees in Australia at any one time (eg capacity of temporary hostel accommodation) and of Australia's concern for the resettlement of refugees from other sources, and conclude by suggesting to the Minister a specific target figure for refugees from Hong Kong in Australia's new programme year.

4.

Tactically, we have to recognise that a number of Australians profess some scepticism at "Hong Kong's gold-plated begging bowl". They plead the need to consider the plight of those refugees stuck in grimmer conditions elsewhere, and are honest, to us at least, about their political need to favour the ASEAN countries. But these arguments do leave them with a slightly uneasy conscience towards Hong Kong, which we can continue to work on. Overall, I think the best argument for Australian ears is that of a "fair go": that it is hardly fair to penalize your friends simply because they have behaved more decently than others.

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