TNAG-1183-FCO40-1485-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 11

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WONFO 022/09

TELELETTER

GRS 750

CONFIDENTIAL

TELELETTER

FROM S J GOMERSALL, WASHINGTON

NFR

DATED 8 OCTOBER 1982

PA p...

བསམ',

FOLLOWING FOR R J T MCLAREN ESQ CMG HONG KONG

CC HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT, FCO

SEAD, FRO

NAD, FCO

I don't thhay cetin is reped.

HKK 24311

234

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

202

12

↑ AF/10

1. SINCE RECEIPT OF YOUR TELNO 1055 OF 17 SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE FOLLOWED UP YOUR BRIEFING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU FOR REFUGEES AND EAST ASIA BUREAU TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FACTS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO REPLY DIRECTLY, BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE SUBJECT FOR HIS MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR ON 26 OCTOBER.

2. THE REACTION OF THOSE WE HAVE SPOKEN TO SO FAR HAS BEEN SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS HONG KONG, BUT NOT ENCOURAGING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES FOR INCREASED US UP-TAKE. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE UK'S OTHER IMMIGRATION COMMITMENTS, THEY SUGGEST THAT THE EUROPEANS COULD BE PERSUADED TO DO MORE.

3. THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND HAS SUBSTANTIALLY DETERIORATED SINCE CUSHING AND AMBASSADOR VINE EXPLAINED THE POSITION IN HONG KONG LAST SPRING. THE ECONOMY HAS NOT PICKED UP AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD DIFFICULTY BALANCING ITS BUDGET. THE PROJECTED TOTAL COST OF ALL US REFUGEE ASSISTANCE IN FINANCIAL YEAR 1983 IS APPROX- IMATELY DOLLARS 1.7 BILLION, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES OVERSEAS, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO REFUGEES WHO ENTERED IN EARLIER YEARS. THE US ADMITTED 215,000 REFUGEES IN 1980, 158,000 IN 1981, AND AN ESTIMATED 98,500 IN 1982. THE POLITICAL WORM HAS ALSO BEGUN TO TURN. THE FEELING IS THAT WITH 625,000 VIETNAMESE ADMITTED SINCE THE WAR, THE US HAS DONE WHAT DECENCY REQUIRED. THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF UNCOUNTED MEXICANS AND 160,000 HAITIANS AND CUBANG CONTINUES TO DE FELT.