TNAG-1392-FCO40-1864-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 171

resettlement.

iii)

A UNHCR official told a visiting Hong Kong official in Ma 1984 that in the absence of a "political" gesture by the UK, по on else would make such a gesture for a British colony, whereas they would (for political reasons) for ASE AN countries.

2.

We have countered these criticisms by pointing out that the UK has by no means neglected its responsibilities in this respect: it has already accepted over 18,500 Vietnamese refugees, mostly fr Hong Kong. When added to the 14,000 who have been resettled in Ho Kong itself, this represents a substantial contribution towards international resettlement effort.

3.

the

There is no guarantee that resettlement countries would

commit themselves to take larger numbers of Vietnamese refugees fro Hong Kong in the event that an additional significant number were admitted to Britain. The statements reported above suggest that th effect of the UK accepting a further quota might indeed

be to

encourage other countries to increase their off-take from Hong Kong

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

23 OCTOBER 1984