TNAG-1420-FCO40-1903-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 76

[PRIAOG]

CONFIDENTIAL

Е

EUROPEAN POLITICAL

9-11 OCTOBER 1985

COOPERATION POLITICAL COMMITTEE:

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

LUXEMBOURG:

LKK 24362

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

08 OCT 1985

DES-

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

A. REFERENCES: UKREP Brussels telno 3195 0:

2 October.

ber.

хе

OB JECTIVE

To reinforce the discussion initiated at EC Ministerial level by

Mr Rifkind at the Foreign Affairs lunch on 1 October, by drawing

Political Directors' attention, if an opportunity arises, to the

approaches we have been

been making in capitals asking for further

help in resettling Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong.

POINTS TO MAKE

serious

Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong causing us

concern. Have decided to

to accept 500 more refugees to the UK. But cannot solve whole problem ourselves and need more help from

friends and allies. Embassies are approaching each of your governments individually: will not therefore go into detail now. But hope your Governments will look at this very carefully.

BACKGROUND

1.

Hong Kong has largest number of Vietnamese awaiting

resettlement of

of any place of first asylum in

asylum in South East Asia.

Because of decline in resettlement

resettlement places, 60% have been there

over 3 years.

2.

The Government published a White Paper on 26 September in

response to the Home Affairs Committee's report "Refugees and

Asylum with Special Reference to the Vietnamese". It announced

inter alia:

(i)

HMG's decision to accept for resettlement some 500

CONFIDENTIAL