CONFIDENTIAL
B 4.
The Japanese Cabinet agreed in 1980 the categories
and criteria at
used present
in the selection of
Indo-Chinese refugees for resettlement
ties
in Japan. They do
However the
not appear on paper to be unduly restrictive as regards the definition of a connection with Japan by means of family
with Japanese residents or nationals, or employment
with Japanese individuals or institutions. requirement for "Job experience which may facilitate his
in employment
Japan" excludes many refugees who would otherwise qualify, since many of the refugees now
in Hong
Kong have
of employment
Vietnam's
technologically
agricultural sector.
background a
backward
in
Such a
background does not facilitate employment in
in any advanced
society; and this requirement is not one which,
we know,
any other
reason
why it
should be invoked
so far as
We resettlement country uses.
when other by Japan
see no
countries perceive no need for it.
5.
innocuous
However, as is the case
with other aspects of
practice it is the Japanese bureaucratic
way in which
apparently
regulations
interpreted which
are
causes problems.
―
vague, and
not a
Many of the terms used are leave officials wide discretion to decide whether or refugee qualifies eg "a considerable period", "being able to adapt to Japanese society", "of
character",
"dependants" (nuclear or extended family?),
extended family?), "job experience in Japan", "in good
good
may
facilitate his employment
*
which
health". The examination of applications by
interviews in Hong Kong, is the fence principally at which many applicants fall.
officials,
at
6.
Applicants are interviewed by teams of Japanese officials who visit Hong Kong periodically (twice in 1985).
another The interviews include tests in mental arithmetic,
feature
apparently
resettlement.
unique to
Japanese selection for
At the interview stage a a further unwritten
requirement is invoked:
invoked: willingness to accept resettlement
CONFIDENTIAL
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