TNAG-1273-FCO40-1623-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 156

KKK 24311

SOYAD LA RESSOY NG

1 1 FEB 1983

DESK CICLA INDEX

HOFO 025/09

No

T/L FCO

T/L LISBON

PA

0527

24311

Eater (VRS - HK)

он снази

Spoke to Mr. Segar, SEAD. should reply,

Agreed that after consulting

ut on

7823/2

Av.

me

Sfint

15/2

g

75%

draft.

Copy

has been sent to

YUND

FED

GPS 275

TELELETTER

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: R.P. MARGOLIS, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG

REF: SCR 44/4821/79

DATE:

9 FEBRUARY 1983

FRO:

R.J.F. HOARE, ESQ., HK AND GD, FCO

C.C.

P.W. HARE, ESQ., LI,

LISZON

C.M. SEGAR, ESQ., SEAD, FCO

SED, CO ко

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM MACAU

AS YOU MAY KNOW, IT HAS LONG BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE MACAU AUTHORITIES TO DIRECT TOWARDS HONG KONG REFUGEE BOATS CALLING IN AT MACAU. IN SOME CASES THE BOATS ARE TOWED TOWARDS HONG KONG WATERS. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CASES OF BOATS LANDING AT MACAU IN POOR REPAIR AND WHOSE REFUGEES HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN PUT INTO OTHER SOUNDER BOATS BEFORE BEING TOWED TOWARDS HONG KONG. WE HAVE PROTESTED TO THE PORTUGUESE CONSULATE-GENERAL HERE ABOUT SUCH PRACTICES AND HAVE ALSO TAKEN IT UP DIRECT WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN MACAU. THESE REPRESENTATIONS HAVE HAD NO EFFECT. WE HAVE HAD TO ACCEPT IN PRACTICE THAT THE AUTHORITIES IN MACAU ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO COPE WITH A SUBSTANTIAL BURDEN

OF REFUGEES.

2. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO PUT UP WITH THIS PRACTICE BECAUSE OF THE SEVERELY REDUCED RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONG KONG'S OWN REFUGEES. THE PRESENCE OF A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF REFUGEES (OVER 12,000) IN HONG KONG AND THE EFFORTS WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DEVOTES TO TAKING CARE OF THEM ARE A SENSITIVE POLITICAL ISSUE AGAINST THE BACK- GROUND OF OUR RIGID POLICY ON IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

3. THERE HAS NOW BEEN A PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE CASE.

A BOAT CARRYING 98 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARRIVED IN HONG KONG ON 14 JANUARY. THEY HAD BEEN IN MACAU SINCE 25 DECEMBER. SOME OF THE REFUGEES HAD APPARENTLY BEEN IN POOR HEALTH ON ARRIVIAL IN MACAU AND HAD REQUIRED HOSPITAL TREATMENT. THE REMAINDER WERE PROVIDED WITH ACCOMMODATION BY THE MACAU AUTHORITIES. THEY HAD ALL SIGNED OR BEEN MADE TO SIGN A PIECE OF PAPER INDICATING THAT THEY WISHED TO COME TO HONG KONG. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS UP WITH THE PORTUGUESE CONSULATE-GENERAL HERE, WHO UNDERTOOK TO PASS ON OUR REPRESENTATIONS TO MACAU AND TO LISBON (COPY OF SPEAKING NOTE FOLLOWS BY BAG). IF THE RESPONSE TO THESE REPRESENTATIONS IS UNSATISFACTORY, WE MAY WISH TO PROPOSE THAT THE EMBASSY IN LISBON SHOULD SPEAK TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY.

4. HKGD REGISTRY PLEASE COPY TO SEAD AND SED.

Passed by Com can

SIGNED: R.P. MARGOLIS

NNNN