TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 63

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hoped.

we had originally

Special Coordinator for

with the Administration

boost Our diplomatic

materialise,

Ambassador

Refugee Affairs,

the possibility

effort.

and a decision now

Administration's

has

Douglas, the outgoing

said he would explore

of a "quick gesture" to

However

this has failed to

se ems unlikely until the

newly established "Indo-Chinese Refugee Panel"

announce

their intentions later

undertak en its proposed review of policy. We expect the

Canadians to

this month.

Indications SO far are that their intake from Hong Kong will not be

increased, and may even decrease.

European countries

3.

Of the European countries, only Luxembourg has made a specific

commitment (to accept a "number of families"). Otherwise the

80.

look the most promising. The Norwegians

Scandinavians and the Dutch

for example are considering tak ing

taking an extra 100 refugees from Hong Kong in addition to their quota for this year. Finland may tak e

Denmark and Sweden have said they are willing in principle

to accept some, but have not specified how many. The Dutch have

mentioned the possibility of taking two intakes of 60 each. The

French and West Germans on the other hand, who in the past

past have

taken more refugees from Hong Kong than other European countries,

have responded less positively. This is disappointing, but not

surprising given both countries' other refugee commitments (towards

other Indo-Chinese refugees and Eastern European asylum seekers

respectively). The French have expressed interest in family reunion

cases and French speakers, but have stressed that the total numbers

accepted are likely to be small. The Germans have said they are

unlikely to be able to admit any additional refugees from Hong Kong.

We are recommending that Ministers raise the matter in the margins

of the forthcoming French and German summits.

Others

The

4. New Zealand has offered 10 places. This is helpful, but far

less than we would have liked.

Japanese have reacted

sympathetically but we still await their formal response.

Japanese representative at the Executive Committee meeting of UNHCR

The

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