TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 68

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(b) this would not reduce the deterrent effect of the

closed centre policy. But this could be for discussion with the Hong Kong Government and UNHCR nearer the time, if a decision was taken in principle to accept more refugees.

Extension to Hong Kong of 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees

Neither has been extended to Hong Kong. The 1951 Convention

was not extended to Hong Kong because of the territory's small size and geographical vulnerability to mass illegal immigration.

The 1967 protocol was applied only to those territories to which

the 1951 Convention was extended. The Hong Kong Government

nevertheless cooperates fully with the Office of the UNHCR and

Hong Kong has, as I am sure you will agree, made a major

contribution to the international effort to assist Indo-

Chinese refugees.

Incidentally, to our knowledge, none of the countries of the region giving temporary asylum to Vietnamese and other Indo-Chinese refugees is party to the 1951 Convention and 1967 protocol. They nevertheless, like Hong Kong, cooperate as far as possible with UNHCR in the Protection of and assistance

to refugees.

Evidence to suggest that other resettlement countries take

refugees from other places of first asylum in preference to those from Hong Kong.

The table in part II of our Memorandum suggests this to be

the case. When questioned as to the reasons for this preference,

resettlement countries tend to reply that they do not see

Hong Kong as a priority because it is a British responsibility.

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