TNAG-1275-FCO40-1625-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 8

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CONFIDENTIAL

(vi)

Regarding Hong Kong's position in the joint registry of British shipping, Hong Kong is already shouldering an enormous burden as a territory of first asylum and has settled more than 14,000 refugees locally since 1975. It cannot therefore be expected to meet the additional responsibilities of a flag carrier, under RASRO.

4. We agree with UNHCR's general aims for securing international cooperation under the RASRO scheme to resolve this difficult refugee problem. Indeed we can see some advantages in RASRO, particularly in insuring against the possibility of large numbers of unexpected arrivals, as well as in allowing time to find the most suitable resettlement destination for the refugees. Nevertheless, I regret that present circum- stances do not allow us to go along with the scheme.

сс

Mr C Segar

SEAD

Miss O Walker

HKD

Mr R Sindon

MAED

Mr A Cambridge

MVD

Mr N Montgomery-Pott

DJ Peate

United Nations Department

HOME OFFICE [Immigration Dept, Lunar House CROYDON]

CONFIDENTIAL