TNAG-1422-FCO40-1905-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 58

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PERCENTAGE FALL IN ITS REFUGEE POPULATION IN 1985 IS ATTRIBUTABLE

ALMOST ENTIRELY TO ITS ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE RATE OF NEW

ARRIVALS IN THE TERRITORY THROUGH A POLICY OF HUMANE

DETERRENCE' A CONCEPT WHICH THE AMERICANS HAVE STRONGLY

SUPPORTED.

2.

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ONE PURPOSE OF HMG'S RECENT RESETTLEMENT INITIATIVE IN

RESPONSE TO SCORRI IS TO TRY TO SECURE A BETTER DEAL FOR HONG

KONG FROM THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. A GESTURE FROM THE US, AS THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRY, WOULD HELP US GREATLY IN OUR

EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THIS.

3.

WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD SEEK AN EARLY

OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THESE POINTS TO MS HECKLINGER. HAVING GIVEN HER THE HARD LINE, YOU SHOULD ADD THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE AMERICANS HAVE DONE TO HELP WITH HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEMS, BUT A FURTHER GESTURE NOW, PARTICULARLY TO HELP LONGSTAYERS IN THE CAMP POPULATION (6000, OR 64 PER CENT, OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR OVER 3 YEARS) WOULD BE ESPECIALLY

WELCOME.

HOWE

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PS/MR RENTON

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON

PS/PUS

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