TNAG-1180-FCO40-1482-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 99

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CONFIDENTIAL

3

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But even if a US announcement of the new measures

did get the message across, Hong Kong would continue to be an attraction in its own right. PA commented that in other words, Hong Kong risked losing out both ways: Mr Cushing readily admitted that the US had

treated Hong Kong less generously than others, "because you behave decently". He hinted however that they would be ready to "give generous consideration" to the problem of old disqualified cases. The US would however need to be cautious about this, since refugees resettled from Hong Kong had in the past seemed far too well off to fit the image of a genuine refugee in the eyes of the American public.

4.

Mr Cushing noted that there was a danger that Hong Kong would be seen as an attractive country of asylum or resettlement unless steps were taken to make reception here less attractive. S for S and PA agreed, and remarked that Hong Kong was studying the situation closely with a view to considering the options now open in the light of the changing circumstances.

Security Branch

Government Secretariat Hong Kong

Date : 2 April 1982

File: CR 11/4821/79

Distribution :

S for S

PA

DPA

D of I (Attn Mr Chadderton)

C/RCC

HKGO, London

(Mrs Helen Yu)

CONFIDENTIAL

FCO: P.J. Williamson Esq, HKGD

T.c.s.Stitt,Esq.,SEAD

Chanceries :

Washington

UKMIS Geneva

Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta

Manila

Bangkok Hanoi