TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 31

C Stitt Esq

SEAD

FCO

RESTRICTED

British Embassy

No Ichiban-Cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo

Telex J22755 (A/B PRODROME)

Telephone 265-5511

FA 243/13

- 2 JU 1980

Cult

(60)

HKK 2437 Have 37 760

RECEIVE IN The Bab

JUL 1980 Juds

HKLA

HK

INDEX

По

2326

to AWzz42 14224

Your reference

Our roference

Date 20 June 1980

Deari

IN

CA.

INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES

4

1.

You may recall that we reported in our telno 282 of 6 May that the then Japanese P.M., Mr Ohira, had told President Carter that Japan would raise its ceiling figure for permanent settlement of Indo-Chinese refugees from 500 to 1,000. The MFA has now issued a press release announcing both this increase in the resettlement target figure and a relaxation in the requirements that refugees must fulfil for resettlement in Japan. A copy is

enclosed.

2.

I discussed the announcement with Imagawa, Director of the Refugee Division in the MFA. He described the areas where the requirements for resettlement had been relaxed. These are:

(a) Relatives such as brothers or sisters of Indo-Chinese

refugees who have been allowed to settle in Japan may now accompany them. Previously only the spouse, parent or child could do so.

(b) The rules covering personal employees of Japanese

nationals, people who have been taught by members of the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and people ople who have worked with Japanese nationals (parts 2(c), 2(d) and 2(e) of para 2 of the press release) are less restrictive than previously.

(c) Refugees able to adapt easily to Japanese society through

having, for example, conversational ability in Japanese will now, under a completely new provision, (part 2(f) of para 2 of the press release) be eligible for resettlement in Japan.

(a)

Children with foster parents in Japan will be eligible for resettlement. This new concession is designed to encourage the adoption of Indo-Chinese orphans.

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13.