TNAG-1424-FCO40-1907-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 96

Rt Hon Denis Healey CH MBE MP

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HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SWIA OAA

Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe MP

© Ack

89

HKD for draft reply from as by 10/13

7 March 1985

Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs

Whitehall, SW1

Jen Gedhe

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PS/Mr. Luce

SEAD

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I enclose a Petition about the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. I have already written to David Waddington about Home Office aspects of the problem.

Their main concern is about the 6,000 Vietnamese refugees being held in close camps under control by the Colony's Correction Services, although they have committed no offence. I am told that this

policy was condemned by the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees in August 1984.

I would be grateful if you can let me know whether you are able to influence the policy of the Hong Kong Authorities in this regard, and whether you will take a lead in seeking international action to deal with these refugees, since as you know the problem is growing all the time, and may before long impinge directly on the future of the territory.

Denis Healey