A
н
See HKK 24315
or so. 31
26
Original at:
HKKO27/2
CONFIDENTIAL
This Copy for:
ник 2431
Information only / Action on
Para(s)
3 1 JAN 1983
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : ESSENTIAL FACTS
INDEX
Pi
1.
Lord Belstead chaired a meeting on 6 January at which the closed camps policy, a new UK quota and involuntary repatriation were all discussed. These matters had been raised during
Lord Belstead's visit to Hong Kong in December last year. Following the meeting on 6 January HKGD submitted a draft minute from Lord Belstead to the Secretary of State recommending that Hong Kong's closed camp legislation should not be disallowed, despite the difficulties this posed HMG in respect of obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, that the Secretary of State should write to the Home Secretary seeking further UK concessions for Vietnamese refugees, and that HMA Hanoi should be instructed to make preliminary contact with the Vietnamese on the possibility of voluntary repatriations.
2.
In
The Secretary for Security was questioned in the Legislative Council on 19 January about the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees. The text of his reply and supplementaries
are given in Hong Kong telegram number 101 of 21 January.
his reply he said that there now appear to be only four major
Western countries willing to resettle Vietnamese refugees the
US, Canada, Australia and France. In response to a supplementary question he said repatriation of refugees to Vietnam was a possibility the Hong Kong Government are now obliged to consider very seriously. This was picked up by the Hong Kong press, and received a good deal of attention. It has now been mentioned in the UK press and in the BBC World Service.
Hong Kong and General Department
January 1983
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.