TNAG-1273-FCO40-1623-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 105

2.

CONFIDENTIAL

R UKMIS GENEVA

The Secretary of State raised the subject

of refugees in Hong Kong when he saw Mr Hartling

on 14 April. You should follow this up by:

(a)

(b)

(c)

pointing out the difficulties、now faced

by Hong Kong.

suggesting that the UNHCR should point out

to the Vietnamese the difficulties caused

by the continuing outflow of refugees, and

request them that they place greater emphasis

on the ODP.

urging UNHCR to pursue all possible avenues

for resettlement of refugees already in

countries of first asylum, and in particular

to urge resettlement countries not to reject

applicants as being economic migrants rather

than refugees: there is no doubt that if

returned they would be subject to persecution.

FOR PARIS AND CANBERRA

3. You should make the following points with

your host governments at the appropriate level: (a) refer to the difficulties faced by Hong Kong

and other countries of first asylum.

(b)

seek their views on the merits of a joint

approach to the Vietnamese to point out the

difficulties and humanitarian problems

caused by the continuing outflow of refugees,

and to urge them to increase their efforts

to arrange departures through the ODP.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(c)

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