TNAG-1423-FCO40-1906-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 8

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OP make float copy E pa 243/5 (top copy given to SEAD

for incorporation into brief)

CALL ON MR LUCE BY AMBASSADOR EUGENE DOUGLAS, US COORDINATOR FOR

REFUGEE AFFAIRS : 27 FEBRUARY 1985

62

a.

POINTS TO MAKE

US RESETTLEMENT

1. Most grateful for continuing US efforts on behalf of Vietnamese

refugees in Hong Kong. Hope you will be able at least to maintain present level of offtake.

LIKELY EFFECT OF INCREASED RESETTLEMENT BY UK

2.

Would US be likely to increase their offtake from Hong Kong if UK accepted more? SCORRI, whose Chairman I understand you are

seeing, are likely to focus on this point.

LIKELIHOOD OF INCREASED UK RESETTLEMENT (DEFENSIVE)

3. As you may know, SCORRI are currently looking into this. Home

Secretary will no doubt consider the matter further in the light of

their report, (due late April). Must emphasise difficulties of admitting greater number of Vietnamese to UK: high unemployment (80%), difficulties in integrating. But am pleased to say Home Office have agreed in advance of SCORRI report to review certain cases of refugees with close relatives here who fall outside our

current criteria for acceptance.

REPATRIATION (DEFENSIVE)

A possible option, but difficulty of Vietnamese attitude. Would

need Vietnamese assurances regarding treatment of those returning,

and cooperation in accepting them back. US view?

HKK 243 IS

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

-

4 MAR 1985

DEK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

on Tukim

SJH

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1.

CALL ON MR LUCE BY AMBASSADOR EUGENE DOUGLAS, US COORDINATOR FOR

REFUGEE AFFAIRS : 27 FEBRUARY 1985

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

ESSENTIAL FACTS

GENERAL

1.

11,700 Vietnamese refugees currently in Hong Kong awaiting

resettlement. Just over half (5924) in closed centres. 1984

arrivals totalled 2230. 3694 were resettled outside Hong Kong, of

which 1541 went to the US. (Canada, Australia and the UK accepted

1008, 736 and 88 respectively).

A

US RESETTLEMENT POLICY

2. US currently accept about 100 refugees from Hong Kong each

month. They are reluctant

reluctant to increase their offtake for the

following reasons:

(i) they regard the majority of refugees now arriving in Hong Kong

as economic migrants. Since mid-1982 about 50% of those selected by the US Consulate in Hong Kong as eligible for admission under the US Refugee Programme have subsequently been rejected by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) on the grounds that they are not

refugees.

(ii) they regard Hong Kong as a UK responsibility and consider that it is up to HMG to take the lead in accepting more refugees. This

was made clear in the US evidence to the Race Relations and

Immigration Sub-Committee (SCORRI).

3.

Partly as a result of (i) and (ii), US offtake from Hong Kong is

limited to a monthly quota substantially below the quotas allocated

to neighbouring places of first asylum with smaller caseloads, eg

Malaysia. The US Consulate in Hong Kong has justified this to Hong

Kong officials on the basis of American political priorities in

the region.

SCORRI ENQUIRY

4. Report not expected until late April.

Ambassador Douglas wi11

also be meeting Mr John Wheeler MP, Chairman of SCORRI, and Mr

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Jeremy Hanley, a member of the Committee, during his visit to

London.

UK RESETTLEMENT

5.

Mr Waddington has informed the British Refugee Council (BRC) that he is prepared to reconsider, in advance of the SCORRI report, individual cases of refugees in Hong Kong who have relatives in the UK and whom the BRC consider to have exceptional compassionate circumstances, but whose applications have previously been refused by the Home Office.

BALA

REPATRIATION

6. The Hong Kong Government have asked us to authorise HMA Hanoi to raise the subject of involuntary repatriation with the Vietnamese. We shall shortly be submitting to Mr Luce a general policy review paper covering this subject.

TV

By

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