CONFIDENTIAL
as a basis for a major diplomatic offensive with other
resettlement countries and potential resettlement
countries designed to persuade them to increase their
off take from Hong Kong. We are not in a position to
bargain with them, since they do not owe us anything in
this respect; but I am nevertheless optimistic that we
will thereby secure a general increase in efforts. The
Americans and Australians
in effect said as much to
SCORRI. I would also be willing to seek
seek to persuade the
Hong Kong Government to accept for resettlement in Hong
Kong some of the refugees of Chinese race at present in
the open camps, though this will be difficult for the
!
Executive Council to accept in the absence of effective
measures to stop the flow of refugees.
[
IMPROVED TRAINING FACILITIES
to
12. Any scheme which makes refugees more acceptable to
resettlement countries is obviously useful. Much is
already being done in this respect, and the Hong Kong
Government are considering with UNHCR further me an s
provide refugees with appropriate skills. We shall
encourage this. This will enable us to reply positively
to the SCORRI recommendations on this point, and may also
help to improve the closed camp policy's public image.
In this connection you may wish to consider whether in
connection with an increased UK off take some use of the
UNHCR retraining facilities at Bataan in the
in the Philippines
would be helpful.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Private notes are available after approval.