TNAG-1427-FCO40-1910-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1986 — Page 224

CONFIDENTIAL

If we follow this policy it is therefore doubly important to demonstrate clearly that we are doing our part to help with

resettlement.

6. If repatriation to Vietnam must be ruled out, for the

present at least, I am forced to conclude that the only

acceptable means at present at our and Hong Kong's disposal

to discourage further arrivals is the maintenance of the

present closed camp policy. I am therefore inclined to think that SCORRIS recommendations on ending the closed camp system

must be resisted.

Increasing Resettlement

7.

There is no doubt in my mind that the key to any greater success by HMG in persuading resettlement countries to increase their offtake is action by the UK itself to take more refugees from Hong Kong. Without this we and Hong Kong are in an impossible position in seeking to persuade other countries to

do more: this has been made clear to us on many occasions both

by other resettlement countries and UNHCR. It was also a point

made by SCORRI. Our past record shows that we made a

substantial effort when the crisis was at its height:

have accepted 12,500 Vietnamese from Hong Kong since 1979.

But in terms of persuading others to continue resettlement from

Hong Kong we have to contend with the fact that in the last 3

years our own resettlement rate from Hong Kong has fallen drastically: we have accepted less than 500 in that time,

including only 88 in 1984.

8.

we

I have therefore concluded that if we are to have any

hope of persuading other countries to accept increased

numbers from the camps in Hong Kong, we must ourselves be prepared to accept a significantly larger number in the UK. The SCORRI recommendation, that we should accept the 400-500

CONFIDENTIAL.

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