TNAG-1276-FCO40-1626-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 26

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4. THE OUTLOOK FOR HONG KONG THUS REMAINS VERY BLEAK. UNLESS

THE RATE OF ARRIVALS FALLS EVEN FURTHER OR THE RATE OF RE-

SETTLEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASES, HONG KONG FRANKLY EXPECTS TO

HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SHOULDER THIS BURDEN VIRUTALLY INDEFINITELY. IN SPATE OF THE FACT THAT OUR TERRITORY HAS ALREADY OVER-CROWDED

AND WE HAVE GRAVE PROBLEMS WITH HMMIGRATION FROM CHINA, HONG KONG

HAS DONE WHAT IT CAN TO ABSORB A PART OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ACCEPTED OVER 14,000 DISPLACED INDOCHINESE FOR PERMANENT SETTLE- MENT HERE, A CONTRIBUTION THAT IN TERMS OF POPULATION MUST BE OUT-

STANDING IN WORLD TERMS. THUS OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT MUST NOW BE

THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM, AND ANY ASSISTANCE THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE HIN THIS CONTEXT, BY ALLOCATING A GENEROUS

PROPORTION OF THE QUOTA APPROPRIATE TO HONG KONG'S DIFFICULT

SITUATION, WOULD BE INVALUABLE AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.

5. The WOULD WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT WITH YOU PERSONALLY. MEANWHILE, PLEASE ACCEPT, SHR, THE ASSURANCE OF

MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION. UNQUOTE

YOUDE

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MR WRIGHT MR GIFFARD

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COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE,

LONDON

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