TNAG-1071-FCO40-1321-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1981 — Page 21

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Information received by him point into the opposite direction which means that Vietnamese refugees are more easy to integrate than many other nationalities now in Germany.

I then had lunch with Mr. A.J. Hunter, Head of Chancery, British Embassy, Bonn, who had prepared my itinerary. During lunch, he more or less reconfirmed what I had already heard from the persons visited during the morning.

I had a lengthy telephone conversation with Mr. Koester, senior CDU member of the Bundestag Sub-Committee for Humanitarian Aid who had been very helpful during previous visits and who had written letters on our behalf to the Bundeskanzer. Mr. Koester was very concerned that Germany so far has made no real effort to assist Hong Kong. He stated that Lord Carrington was presently in Germany to have talks with Bundeskanzler Schmidt in Hamburg. He said it would be most helpful if Lord Carrington could say a few words in favour of Hong Kong but very much doubted that this would happen. He assured me of his continued

support.

I then saw Mr. Ministerialdirigent Dr. Petersen, Under Secretary responsible for Asia, Auswaertiges Amt. Dr. Petersen whom I have met before and who had also spoken to H.E. the Governor at the United Nations Conference in July 1979 informed me that he was on his way out to become Ambassador of Iran. Dr. Petersen is a key figure regarding refugee problems, most sympathetic and concerned but, according to his own word, unable to do very much at this time. We had a lengthy and interesting discussion and he assured me that my report about the present situation in Hong Kong and my request for help from Germany would be brought to the attention of the decision making bodies within government.

I made a courtesy call at the UNHCR office in Bonn and again met Mr. Zarjevski who is retiring soon and who, too, expressed his deep disappointment about the present attitude of both government and the public towards refugees. I expressed my disappointment that the High Commissioner when recently visited Bonn concentrated on the problem of African refugees without discussing the urgent need of resettling the boat refugees now in Hong Kong.

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