TNAG-1422-FCO40-1905-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 51

NTI A L SECTION 02 OF 02 STATE 381489

'EMBASSY MAY WISH TO DRAW ON SOME OF THE ABOVE POINTS IN PARAGRAPES 3 AND 4 ONLY IN STRESSING THAT THE U.S. IS WILLING TO MAINTAIN ITS STRONG RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM FROM HON CNG AND OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. HOWEVER, IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO INCREASE OUR EFFORTS IN HCNG KONG DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE USG HAS RESETTLED OVER 5,100 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG ALONE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, A FIGURE HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER ACTIVE FARTICIPANT IN HONG KONG'S REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY INCLUDING HMG ́S. ALTHOUGH THE USG PLANS TO MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS FROM HONG KCNG, AN INCREASE IN REFUGEE OFFTAKE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE FOSSIBLE AT THIS TIME.

7. (LOU) THE EMBASSY SHOULD EXPLAIN THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH THE NEW LEGISLATION MAY POSE FOR THE US REFUGEE PROGRAM. IT IS THE DEPARTMENT'S HOPE THAT THESE CCNSTRAINTS WOULD NOT/NOT BE SEEN AS ENCUMBRANCES ON HMG'S EFFORTS, BUT RATHER SHOULD SERVE AS ADDITIONAL REASONS FOR HMG TO EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS.

8. (U) THE DEPARTMENT WOULD APPRECIATE A REPORT ON THE DECEMBER 17TH MEETING, AND INFORMATION ON WHEN HMG PLANS TC ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.

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CONFIDENTIA I

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