TNAG-1070-FCO40-1320-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 4

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

7

Reference

Mr Mortice

201

Mr Clift

g

HKK 243/3

RECEIVED AN AUS.STRY NO. 51

13 APR 981

DECK OFFNER INDEX.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG)

1.

PA

Mas

MOMAL

REGISTRY

ction Taken

Towards the end of my visit to Hong Kong, noted increasing concern about a possible new outflow of Vietnamese refugees to Hong Kong. This concern is heightened by the view that it is most unlikely that HMG would agree a new UK quota for Vietnamese refugees.

2. In this I sensed the beginnings of a view in Hong Kong that, should there be a further outflow, the refugees should be returned to Vietnam. This will be justified on the grounds that refugees are now almost entirely ethnic Vietnamese, they are economic rather than political refugees and therefore similar to the illegal immigrants from China. I think we will hear more of this.

3.

Clearly it will be very difficult to do this and to persuade the UNHCR that these refugees should be returned to Vietnam but we must, I believe, be prepared for the Hong Kong Government to take a much stronger line this time than they have in the past

Gertainly the Unofficials are much more likely to support the Miss

in the view that the refugees should not be allowed to land

in Hong Kong than they did in the past.

4.

With regard to the American view that HMG ought to be doing more for Hong Kong, I think we can made the point that we have and are continuing to discharge our responsibilities in respect of those problems which we have inherited from our imperial past, i.e. African Asians and people from the Sub-continent. We cannot reasonably be expected to continue to accept responsibility for these people as well as Vietnamese refugees who should properly be the responsibility of the French and the United States.

9 April 1981

cc:

Mr Stitt, SEAD

Zrilians.

P J Williamson

Hong Kong & General Department