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11069 - 1
1985). NOW THAT HMG HAVE AGREED TO ACCEPT A NEW INTAKE, WE WISH
TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECT OF THE DECISION BY LAUNCHING A DIPLOMATIC
OFFENSIVE TO SEEK TO PERSUADE OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO TO OFFER
ADDITIONAL RESETTLEMENT PLACES TO REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. THE
MAIN COUNTRIES WE SHALL BE APPROACHING ARE: THE US, CANADA,
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN, EC AND OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES. (THE FIRST THREE ALREADY TAKE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG
ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO TAKE MORE IN THE
ABSENCE OF A UK INITIATIVE TO ACCEPT A NEW INTAKE. THE OTHER
COUNTRIES LISTED AT PRESENT TAKE ONLY SMALL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES
FROM HONG KONG AND ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS.) WE SHALL BE ISSUING
SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTS IN THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED, ASKING
THEM TO APPROACH THEIR HOST GOVERNMENTS. WE ALSO WISH TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF ANY BILATERAL OR MULTILATERAL MEETINGS IN THE COMING
WEEKS TO RAISE THE SUBJECT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE
COUNTRIES, AND WILL BRIEF MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS
ATTENDING SUCH MEETINGS ACCORDINGLY. WE INTEND IN PARTICULAR TO
DO SO AT THE FORTHCOMING MEETING OF THE UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
TO BE HELD IN GENEVA FROM 7-17 OCTOBER. THE HONG KONG MEMBER OF
THE UK DELEGATION WILL ALSO LOBBY HARD AT THE MEETING, AND HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES OVERSEAS WILL PURSUE THE MATTER
VIGOROUSLY.
HOWE
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INFO.D.
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ADDITIONAL DISTN: GUIDANCE
COPIES TO:
MR RAWSTHORNE
HKGO LONDON
5
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