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CONFIDENTIAL
Pa 243/5
294
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MR RENTON: 27-31 OCTOBER 1985
10.
MKK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG 2 10CT 1985
EGISTRY
Points to make in public
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Lection Taken
め
1.
shouldered such a large
Greatly admire way Hong Kong has
refugee burden. Well aware of difficulties this has posed for such
a small, overcrowded territory.
2.
As a result of the SCORRI report, HMG has broadened its
respect of
of family
criteria in
about 500
more
refugees
resettlemen t in Britain.
about 40 per month.
reunion cases with the result that
in Hong Kong will now qualify for
They will be resettled at the rate of
DEFENSIVE
3.
(Closed centres)
Hong Kong still has the largest number of
Vietnamese boat refugees in South East Asia (28% of the regional
total). HKG must continue with the closed centres as a deterrent.
Conditions in closed centres are generally good. To make life in
them more tolerable and to prepare the refugees for speedier
resettlement, HKG in conjunction with UNHCR and the voluntary
agencies is launching a further series of educational, and language training programmes in the closed centres.
4.
vocational
(Diplomatic campaign) Hope that HMG's decision to accept new intake of refugees from Hong Kong will encourage other resettlement
are actively pursuing this with other
Too early yet to know results
countries to take more:
countries. (If pressed).
diplomatic campaign.
5.
of
(Acceptance by HMG of additional numbers in excess of the
family reunion cases.) As White Paper explains, prepared to
consider this.
Decision will be taken in the light of willingness
shown by other resettlement countries to
needs, and of all the circumstances at the
mind real difficulties
respond to Hong Kong's
time. Have to bear in
Vietnamese
refugees
in
experienced by
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