TNAG-1422-FCO40-1905-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 55

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voluntary

Mr von Arnim suggested we should make contact with

agencies in New Zealand (he mentioned one called "Kuzo"). Mr Leeks

suggested we might do this through the BRC; and through representatives of New Zealand voluntary agencies in Hong Kong.

IRELAND: Mr von Arnim said he had heard from the Irish Government 2

months ag o that they were willing in principle to help, but that

necessary Xthe structures" were not yet in place. Mr von Arnim would be going

to Ireland this

this week and would raise the

the issue (but thought that

only a token number of places would be offered).

ICELAND: likely to

likely to attend meeting on 17 December, with other Nordic

countries. It might be worth pushing them further.

Others:

Greece, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg,

Tanzania, Italy: nothing to add to our information.

4.

Mr von Arnim asked when Hong Kong would be likely to reach a

decision on how many refugees they might absorb. Mr Galsworthy said

that they would probably want to see the results of our approaches

to other countries before taking a decision. Their initial

contribution was not likely to be very large, but we would be

prepared to press them to

to do something. Mr von Arnim said that he

was aware of the problems, including the "pull factor". But there

were some 700 refugees registered as living in open camps and hence

included in Hong Kong's refugee statistics who had not been in the

camps for 3 years (ie who were already effectively integrated into

Hong Kong society). If Hong Kong was formally to announce their

absorption this might provide an incentive to other countries. 700

was a good number; and would match the UK's offer. Mr Leeks doubted

whether this many actually lived outside the camp many would also resist being resettled in Hong Kong. Such a decision would almost

certainly become a difficult political issue in Hong Kong.

suggested that UNHCR should first approach the HKG direct on this

matter rather than through HMG.

5.

Не

confusion about the

Mr von Arnim said that there was some

number of refugees who were eligible to come to the UK as family

reunion cases under the SCORRI initiative.

UNHCR believed some

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