TNAG-1392-FCO40-1864-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 201

OCMIAN 9815

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 18140OZ WASHI

FM FCOLN TO WASHI

181045Z SEP

GRS 774

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 181400Z WASHINGTON

TELNO 1462

OF 181045Z SEPTEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

9815

1

TELECON GOMERSALL/WALKER, HKD: VISIT TO WASHINGTON BY MR WADDINGTON: DISCUSSION OF HONG KONG ISSUES

A

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO HOME OFFICE OFFICIALS, AND ARE ALL AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF MR WADDINGTON COULD RAISE THE SUBJECT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WITH DOUGLAS AND/OR PURCELL.

WE HAVE AGREED WITH THEM THAT HE SHOULD BE BRIEFED TO TAKE THE

FOLLOWING LINE:

(I) VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP HONG KONG

WITH REFUGEE PROBLEM IN RECENT YEARS: CONSCIOUS THAT US

(II)

OFFTAKE IS THE HIGHEST OF ANY RESETTLEMENT COUNTRY.

AWARE THAT UK'S LOW LEVEL OF RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG HAS MADE IF DIFFCULT FOR OTHERS, INCLUDING YOURSELVES, ΤΟ TAKE MORE.

(III) CONCERNED ABOUT EFFECTS ON REFUGEES OF LONGTERM STAY IN

TRANSIT CAMPS: ALSO RISK OF SERIOUS DISORDERS IF

RESETTLEMENT RATE CONTINUES TO DECLINE.

(IV)

WE SHALL SHORTLY BE PUBLISHING WHITE PAPER IN RESPONSE TO SCORRI REPORT (PROBABLY ON 26 SEPTEMBER). CAN TELL YOU, IN STRICT CONFIDENCE UNTIL WHITE PAPER IS PUBLISHED, THAT IT WILL ANNOUNCE OUR ACCEPTANCE OF SCORRI'S RECOMMENDATION

1

CONFIDENTIAL