TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 121

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that Swiss trade figures for 1984 showed Swiss exports to the UK

worth 3.4 billion Swiss francs, against UK exports of 3.1 billion.

The PUS said that once President Furgler had completed his year in

office and was again free to travel abroad, he would be welcome here

perhaps in 1986 for talks with Mr Brittan.

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Illegal Immigration of Tamils

5. Mr Brunner said that the Swiss Ministry of Justice had invited

affected states including the UK, FRG and Netherlands - to be

represented at a meeting in Geneva on 10 October to discuss the

Tamil problem. Switzerland would prefer to act in concert with

other states. The influx of bogus asylum seekers came from Moscow

and the GDR. Mr Hold said that the Home Office had confirmed that

they would be represented. Mr Dain said that WED would follow up

with the Home Office.

Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong

6. The PUS said that the Hong Kong Government had asked for help to

ease the problem of Vietnamese refugees currently held in closed

camps in Hong Kong. HMG were considering increasing the quota of Vietnamese refugees allowed to settle in the UK, and were in touch

with countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, asking

them to consider similar action. Conditions at the camps were

adequate, but the fact that they were enclosed exposed the HK

Government to criticism. Could Switzerland take more? Mr Brunner

said that Switzerland's experience of the 8/9,000 Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees which it had taken was positive. They had

adapted well. He could make no promises, but would convey the UK request to the appropriate Minister (Mrs Kopp).

Falklands/Argentina (Mr Reddaway (FID) joined the meeting)

7.

The PUS restated the UK position on sovereignty and the desire

to normalise relations with Argentina by identifying subjects for

cooperation where national interests converged. He outlined the proposal for multilateral negotiations for a South Atlantic fisheries regime under FAO auspices. Mr Brunner agreed to

facilitate delivery of the Secretary of State's message to Caputo

before the Secretary of State referred to the idea in his speech at

the UNGA on 25 September. Mr Brunner hoped that Argentina would

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