TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 180

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RECEIVED IN REVIOTHY

2 2 OCT 1965

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

Copied

P SEAD

3161

pascarry.

114 OCT 1335

FOR JEAFFRESON (S FOR S) FROM WOODHOUSE IN GENEVA (RPTD HKGO IN

AND CC BRU, WAS, NY AND LON (LDN PLEASE COPY TO LEEKS IN FCO) ADAMS IN UKMIS GENEVA)

EXCOM DISCUSSIONS: V.S. DELEGATION

I JOINED THE UK AMBASSADOR IN A FORMAL MEETING WITH JIM PURCELL AND BOB PERITO OF THE V.S. DELEGATION ON 10 OCTOBER. THE DISCUSSION WAS WIDE-RANGING AND I JOINED ONLY WHEN HONG KONG MATTERS AROSE.

2.

PURCELL SAID THAT HE WELCOMED THE UK DECISION TO RELAX FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA FOR REFUGEES IN HONG KONG AND OTHER PLACES IN THE REGION. HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD HELP THOSE IN THE U.S. SEEKING TO OFFER MORE ASSISTANCE TO HONG KONG.

3.

HE EXPLAINED THAT A DECISION ON THE U.S. INTAKE FOR NEXT YEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN EARLIER THIS MONTH. THERE HAD BEEN A DELAY WHICH MEANT THAT THE TOTAL FIGURE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL EARLY NOVEMBER. THEREFAFTER THE REGIONAL INTAKE AND, IN TURN, THE HONG KONG QUOTA WOULD BE DECIDED.

4.

I THANKED HIM FOR THE U.S. ASSISTANCE TO HONG KONG, BUT I MENTIONED THAT THE PROPORTION OF THE V.S. INTAKE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ALLOCATED TO HONG KONG HAD BEEN FALLING STEADILY FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS (17.5 PERCENT IN 1982, 6.7 PERCENT IN 1983, 3.8 PERCENT IN 1984). DURING THIS PERIOD HONG KONG HAS HAD THE GREATEST NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE REGION (29 PERCENT IN 1982, 28 IN 1983, 33 IN 1984).

HE SEEMED TO TAKE THIS, BUT EMPHASISED THAT HONG KONG ONLY HAD THE GREATEST NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE. I THINK, THEREFORE, THAT HE THINKS THAT WE MIGHT BE COOKING THE FIGURES. I THINK THAT WE MUST GENTLY CLARIFY WITH USCG.

6.

PURCELL EXPLAINED THAT THE QUOTE BLUE RIBBON UNQUOTE PANEL WOULD BE QUITE IMPORTANT. HE SAID THAT IT WOULKD REVIEW U.S. REFUGEE POLICY. IT WOULD BE HEADED BY ROBERT ROY AND PURCELL SEMI-COLON SAW THIS AS A MEANS FOR HONG KONG TO MAKE ITS CASE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. HE ADVISED THAT HONG KONG SHOULD DEAL NOT ONLY WITH ITS PRESENT PROBLEM, BUT ALSO ITS PAST DIFFICULTIES. HE EMPHASISED THE NEED TO GRASP THIS OPPORTUNITY.

PURCELL SAID THAT THE U.S. WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP TRIGGER RENEWED INTEREST IN HONG KONG IN REPLY TO THE UK INITIATIVE.

IN REPLY TO MY QUESTION HE CONFIRMED THAT REALLOCATION OF UN- USED RESETTLEMENT PLACES IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION WAS POSSIBLE. HE CONFIRMED THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS AND MIGHT (MIGHT) BE POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

3.

ON THE WHOLE, THE MEETING WAS ENCOURAGING AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH PURCELL AND THE AMERICANS.

Q.

ENDS

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