TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 268

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DD 28010OZ HONG KONG

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DESKBY 280100Z

FM FCO 271650Z JUN 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 568 OF 27 JUNE

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

HKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 JUN 1983

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

لله

Autmn Token

瓦

1. MR KEITH BEST MP HAS SECURED AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 29 JUNE ON THE SUBJECT 'THE PROBLEMS FACING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES'.

AS THIS IS A HOME OFFICE DEBATE, WE EXPECT IT TO CONCENTRATE ON RESETTLEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE UK. HOWEVER, HOME OFFICE ASKED US FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES ON FCO ASPECTS FOR DEFENSIVE USE.

2.

(A)

(B)

(c)

THESE HAD TO BE PROVIDED TODAY. WE HAVE SUPPLIED

A GENERAL ANSWER ON HONG KONG AS FOLLOWS

'SYMPATHY WITH HONG KONG'S CONTINUING REFUGEE BURDEN. NUMBERS AGAIN INCREASING AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESETTLEMENT

DIMINISH. ALL SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUING

CONTRIBUTION TO THIS MAJOR HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM MADE BY

HONG KONG WHICH HAS SINCE 1975 ALSO ABSORBED 14,000 VIETNAMESE INTO ITS OWN COMMUNITY'.

SUPPLEMENTARY ON CLOSED CAMPS BASED ON AGREED DRAFT FOR

GREGOR MCKENZIE'S ORAL PQ.

SUPPLEMENTARY ON REPATRIATION AS FOLLOWS

'ANY REPATRIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY.

IT WOULD FOR EXAMPLE REQUIRE THE COOPERATION OF BOTH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED. (IF PRESSED) BECAUSE OF THE HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS AND LEGAL DIFFICULTIES, THE OPTION OF PURSUING FORCIBLE

REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES MUST BE RULED OUT'.

3.

GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 28090OZ THE LATEST NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AWAITING RESETTLEMENT IN HONG KONG (EXCLUDING EX-CHINA CASES)

HOWE

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION:-

LIMITED

HKD

COPIES TO:

MRS YU, HK GOV, OFFICE LDN

SEAD

MR DONALD

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