TNAG-1418-FCO40-1901-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 31

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RESTRICTED

TELELETTER

FROM S J GOMERSALL ESO, WASHINGTON

FILE REFERENCE NFT DATED 24 JUNE 1985

FOLLOWING FOR W EHRMAN ESQ, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO

COPIED TO:

C T WOOD ESO, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISOR, HONG KONG

W DORWARD ESO, NEW YORK

HONG KONG/US: IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES

IMMIGRATION

1. PLEASE REFER TO MY TELELETTER OF 12 FEBRUARY TO PIERCE, HONG

KONG DEPARTMENT. THIS IS JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PROPOSAL TO

INCREASE THE US IMMIGRATION QUOTA FOR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO A REVISED AND POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL

IMMIGRATION BILL. THERE IS THEREFORE NO PROSPECT OF ITS BEING

IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAVE UNDERTAKEN

TO LET US KNOW IF IT LOOKS LIKE BEING REVIVED.

REFUGEES

1. THE SENIOR STAFFER ON SOLARZ'S ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS SUB-

COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TOLD ME ON 21 JUNE THAT

THERE WAS A GENERAL FEELING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS PEING

TOO HARSH IN ITS CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OF REFUGEES FROM THAILAND,

AND THAT HEARINGS MIGHT BE HELD ON THIS SUBJECT IN JULY. I SAID

IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY COULD DO SOMETHING FOR HONG KONG TOO, AND

LEVEN NOTED THE POINT. THESE HEARINGS MAY WELL NOT MATERIALISE: BUT

IF THEY DID THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOME LOBBYING

OF BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS HERE, DEPENDING ON HOW HMG

IS PROPOSING TO RESPOND TO THE SCORRI REPORT. WHAT IS THE NEWS ON

THIS.?

3. HKD PLEASE PASS TO SEAD.

SIGNED S J GOMERSALL

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