TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 28

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We are extremely conscious of the generosity which the United States has shown in recent years towards South East Asian refugees, and grateful for the sizeable numbers, - approximately half the total - which the US Government has already accepted from Hong Kong. Up to now, Britain itself has accepted 19,000 Vietnamese refugees for permanent resettlement in the United Kingdom. It has been hard for us to do more because the integration of these refugees into the United Kingdom has proven more difficult than we expected. In the recent past, the United States Administration has understandably taken the position that it is difficult for the United States to do more for Hong Kong in the absence of a stronger lead from the United Kingdom. HMG's latest decision shows that we are prepared to take this lead and we are doing so with the warm support of UNHCR

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We are sure that opinion in the United States recognizes the exemplary record of Hong Kong in coping with a major influx of boat-people over the years, and also supports the maintenance of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. The acuteness of Hong Kong's refugee problem now calls, as the House of Commons Select Committee said, for a drastic reduction in the residual population. We very much hope therefore that the United States will; so far as it is able, make as positive as possible a response to our international effort on Hong Kong's behalf, in keeping with its traditional role:

I have written similarly to Congressman Rodino. I believe this information will be of interest to the members of the House Sub- Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs.

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Oliver Wright