TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 48

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CONFIDENTIAL

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UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

BRIEF NO. 5

7-17 OCTOBER 1985

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Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong

Line to take

Resettlement

(Paras 1-4 for inclusion in UK's general statement,

and for use on other occasions as appropriate.)

1.

Hong Kong has the largest number of boat people awaiting resettlement (10,500) of any place of first asylum in South East

Asia. 60% have been there over 3 years. It is becoming

increasingly difficult to find resettlement places: serious risk that situation of refugees in Hong Kong's camps will deteriorate if resettlement picture does not improve. UK has accepted 19,000 Vietnamese refugees for resettlement, mostly from Hong Kong

2. HMG have j just published White Paper in response to Home Affairs Select Committee's report on Vietnamese Refugees. White Paper reflects HMG's concern about Hong Kong's refugee problems. It announces our agreement to accept for resettlement some 500 Vietnamese Refugees who have relatives in the UK but who would not

Almost all of qualify for admission under our normal criteria.

these will come from camp s

from camps in Hong Kong; (remainder from camps

elsewhere in South East Asia).

3. We hope other countries will respond to this initiative by taking from Hong Kong whatever additional numbers they can manage: any assistance, however limited, will be welcomed by us and the Hong Kong Government.

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CON DEA

MKK 24362

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