TNAG-1273-FCO40-1623-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 74

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PP UKMIS GENEVA

GRS 513

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 091215Z MAY 83

TO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA

TELEGRAM NUMBER 125 OF 9 MAY

Сору

has been passed

to Sir J. Cater.

7198

-

1

10/5

CONFIDENTIAL-

PF Copy t

PA

AND TO PRIORITY PARIS, CANBERRA, OTTAWA.

INFO HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, HANOI.

нии 243/1

HKK 243

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1HLY 1933

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Acho,

{ ·!

AF 115

HARTLING'S

1. YOU WILL BE AWARE OF OUR CONCERN THAT THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESEİ

REFUGEES IN HONG KONG IS NOW HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF

THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM AND THE DECREASING NUMBER

OF RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. I RAISED THE SUBJECT OF

REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WHEN I SAW HARTLING ON 14 APRIL.

VIEW WAS THAT THE OUTFLOW OF BOAT PEOPLE IS DECLINING AND

ORDERLY DEPARTURES ARE INCREASING. THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE TO

SUPPORT THIS: BUT THE FACT REMAINS FOR HONG KONG THAT

RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE FALLEN MUCH MORE SHARPLY AND WE

CAN ALSO EXPECT A SEASONAL INCREASE IN ARRIVALS ABOUT NOW.

2. I HAVE GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO WHAT HMG CAN DO TO

HELP HONG KONG IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT

WE SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A MULTILATERAL APPROACH TO

THE VIETNAMESE AIMED AT REDUCING FURTHER THE OUTFLOW OF BOAT

PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM AND IMPROVING THE RATE OF DEPARTURES UNDER

THE ODP. WE SHOULD ALSO AGAIN URGE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO

TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.

FOR UKMIS GENEVA

3.

(A)

(B)

(C)

YOU SHOULD APPROACH UNHCR ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:

POINT OUT THE DIFFICULTIES NOW FACED BY HONG KONG:

SUGGEST THAT THE UNHCR SHOULD POINT OUT TO THE VIETNAMESE

THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF

REFUGEES, AND REQUEST THAT THEY PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON

THE ODP:

URGE UNHCR TO PURSUE ALL POSSIBLE AVENUES FOR RESETTLEMENT

OF REFUGEES ALREADY IN COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLM, AND IN

L

CONFIDENTIAL