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GRS 250
RESTRICTED
FM CANBERRA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 745
RESTRICTED
OF 25033OZ OCTOBER 1985
NFC PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKMI'S GENEVA, WASHINGTON, OTTAWA.
YOUR TELNO 518:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG:
RESETTLEMENT IN AUSTRALIA
1. HN ANSWER TO A PQ ON 17 OCTOBER MR HURFORD, MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS, DD INDEED ANNOUNCE THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WERE RESPONDING TO A SPECIAL REQUEST FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS TAKEN FROM THE QUOTE HONG KONG CAMP UNQUOTE. HE SAID THE PROJECTED OFFTAKE OF 400 WOULD BE INCREASED TO 600 AND ADDED THAT THIS MAY BE INCREASED FURTHER TO 800. THE OVERALL AUSTRALIAN LIMIT THIS YEAR OF 6000 REFUGEES WILL NOT BE INCREASED AND THE ADDITIONAL OFFTAKE FROM HONG KONG WOULD BE WITHIN THAT LIMIT. THE MINISTER ALSO ANNOUNCED AN INCREASED OFFTAKE FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO A
TOTAL OF 350 EXPLAINING THAT THIS NUMBER WAS MODEST BECAUSE AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS THAT THE USA AND CANADA HAVE THE QUOTE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PHILIPPINES UNQUOTE.
2. MR HURFORD ALSO SAID THAT THE ''FEELING AMONGST THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE REFUGEE RESPONSIBILITY, BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AS WELL AS AUSTRALIA, IS THAT A SCREENING PROCESS WILL HAVE TO COMMENCE IN REGARD TO PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG FROM VIETNAM WHITH A VIEW TO REPATRIATHLON, JUST AS THAT SCREENING PROCESS TAKES PLACE IN REGARD TO CHINESE PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG.'
3. HAVE WRITTEN TO MR HURFORD TO EXPRESS THE BRITISH GOVERN- MENT'S GRATITUDE FOR THIS DECISION.
4. FULL TEXT OF MR HURFORD'S REPLY FOLLOWS BY BAG TO UN DEPT.
LEAHY
MKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 50CT 1985
DESK OFFICER
LIMITED
HKD
INDEX
SEAD
UND
SPD
MR WILSON
PA
que
P÷GISTRY
Action Taken
RESTRICTED
COPIES TO
MR RAWSTHORNE
HOME OFFICE LUNAR HSE.
HKGO LONDON
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