TNAG-1524-FCO40-2088-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 124

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176

DA to HK.

CE Leeks Esq Hong Kong Department

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Dean Chiton

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CG 13/2

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: SCORRI REPORT

1.

11KK 224562 (85).

We reported in our telno 429 of 3 October that the Greeks had agreed to consider our request to take more refugees from Hong Kong but that their initial reactions had not been encouraging. Subsequent attempts to get an answer also suggested that it was likely to be negative, and we noted that this view was shared by UNCHR (Miss Walker's letter to you from UKMis Geneva of 20 December).

2. Much to our surprise, however, we now have a (very) modest success to report. I called last week on Mr Vallindas of the G3 Directorate in the MFA here (which deals with administrative and judicial matters). Having enquired what response we had had from other EC members (he was particularly interested in France) he announced that the Greek Government had decided some years ago to set an overall limit of 200 on Vietnamese refugees for resettlement in Greece. The number already accepted for resettlement (largely on individual applications, I gather) had already reached 194. His proposal was that the remainder of this quota should be filled from Hong Kong, which should at least permit the resettlement of one family.

3. This is hardly going to solve the Hong Kong Government's problems, but demonstrates goodwill on the part of the Greek Government and is certainly more than we were expecting. I duly expressed gratitude, and Mr Vallindas said that he would get in touch with us here when formal approval was forthcoming.

MKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

13 FEB 1986

„DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

Watch this space!

Young ever,

Angun Sillon Анеми

Angela Gillon (Mrs)

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