TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 48

HKCS

c) Berlin

-

May 4-May 7 (Appendix 7)

5

SHELT NO

Sunday, 4.5.80, 11:45 a.m.: At the airport I was received by

Reverend Furch and an officer of the British Military Authorities.

I was told that the city of Berlin invites me to the Deutsche Oper (Der Türke in Italien", Rossini) and for dinner on that evening, 6 persons from the city authorities were present at that very

pleasant occasion.

They have

He was

Monday, 5.5.80, 10:30 a.m.: Meeting with Senator Sund (Labour and

Social Affairs) who is a very influential person within the Government

of Berlin. Berlin's quota for Vietnamese refugees is 4.5%.

about 780 Vietnamese refugees, most of them from Hong Kong.

not aware of any special difficulties regarding their integration.

Complaints have, however, been received from asylum seekers from other countries that the Vietnamese refugees are always given priority regard-

ing housing, employment, etc. Berlin is willing to take more and

will support a quota increase. Mr. Sund will bring Hong Kong's case to the attention of the other "Laender" at the forthcoming meeting of

the Ministerpraesidenten when the quota issue will be on the agenda.

He was very helpful, and positive. Berlin has, of course, many problems

of its own, many asylum seekers (from Pakistan) come to West-Berlin

vía East Germany. Most of them are not "politische" but "wirtschaftliche

Asylanten": Certain sections of the Berlin population are becoming

quite apprehensive regarding "all these foreigners", especially since

Germany agreed to accept some of the Cuban refugees.

12 noon:

Meeting with Senatsdirektor Brinkmeier (beim Senator fuer

Inneres). Here again a detailed and profound analysis of the German

problems regarding the acceptance and integration of "Asylanten" and

refugees. Although these are two different issues, they are not

different issues to the man in the street. Housing is a serious

problem. Many of the "Asylanten" and Turkish Gastarbeiter live in

slums. He confirmed Senator Sund's assurance re a general quota increase for Vietnamese refugees.

- 6 -