TNAG-1524-FCO40-2088-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 16

TELEX 61750

BI62 by Facs.

Our Ref: 11/3

Dear Ken,

RESTRICTED

BRITISH EMBASSY

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

AVENUE LOUISE 228

1050 BRUSSELS

13 February 1986

Vietnamese Refugees: The Netherlands

During a visit to The Hague today I called on Mr Den Hond, Deputy Head of Asylum Section at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (whom you met in Geneva) to discuss informally the Dutch Government's position and progress on the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong.

2.

Before seeing Den Hond however I called on Mike Hall, First Secretary (Information) at the British Embassy, The Hague to discuss the Dutch position as outlined in Mr Barton's (Hong Kong Department, FCO) letter of 23 January. As Hall had not yet approached the Dutch as per para 2 of Barton's letter, we agreed that I would raise the issues with Den Hond informally.

3.

I opened with Den Hond by stressing the informal nature of my call and our understanding for the Dutch authorities' wish to have all formal approaches on the subject of refugee resettlement channelled via the UNHCR in Geneva. I then enquired about the current Dutch position on the resettlement of VRS from Hong Kong.

4.

Den Hond explained that, having learned of Hong Kong's decision to accept some ethic Chinese VRS for resettlement in Hong Kong, his authorities were now prepared to accept an additional quota of 50 VRS from Hong Kong. Indeed he is a member of a Dutch delegation going to Hong Kong this weekend (16 February) to select refugees for resettlement within this new quota.

Secretary for Security

(Attn Mr K Woodhouse)

Government Secretariat

15.

1KK 243/

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 5 FEB 1986

Security Branch

Central Government Offices

Lower Albert Road

HONG KONG

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

ee British Embassy The Hague (Attn Mr M Hall)

Hong Kong Department, FCO (Attn Mr D J Barton) Hong Kong Government Office - London (Attn Mr B Tang) UKMIS Geneva (Attn Miss Walker)

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TELEGRAMS "HONREP" BRUSSELS

TELEPHONE 648 38 33

116.