TNAG-1530-FCO40-2094-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 40

QUINA AASAANA A FALL

6. On 20 October EC Interior Ministers set up high level ad hoc

working group which will consider measures to achieve a Common

policy to eliminate the abuse of the right of asylum, in

consultation with Council of Europe and UNHCR. The first meeting

will be in November.

Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong

7.

Grateful UNHCR help in obtaining over 1000 more resettlement places for Vietnamese Refugees in Hong Kong.

8.

Hope UNHCR will continue to emphasise need for resettlement countries to help Hong Kong. Unique problems: highest Vietnamese

refugee population and highest proportion of long-stayers in the

region; disproportionately low resettlement rate compared to other

places of first asylum.

9. Many more refugees coming from Vietnam to Hong Kong. Will end

1986 with more refugees in Hong Kong camps than at beginning of

year. Resettlement prolonging, not solving the problem. New

arrivals increasingly motivated by economic pressures. Must look

for other solutions. Understand you attended so-called "Honolulu Group (inter-governmental committee) which met in Geneva earlier this month to consider other possible ideas. Your impressions?

are approaching Group ourselves).

10. (If asked what solution HMG have in mind).

No preconceived ideas: wish to know views of other interested

parties, particularly UNHCR.

11: (If asked about HMG's attitude to criticism of closed camps).

Do not believe criticism can reasonably be levelled at Hong Kong.

Closed camps were introduced as a humane deterrent; we would be ready to discontinue them as soon as circumstances permitted.

Meanwhile, they are run

run as humanely as possible.

12.

(We

(If pressed) Could not risk new influx into Hong Kong by relaxing policy at this stage. Would only be able to do so once satisfied that outflow from Vietnam had been reduced to a trickle.

N69AAR

CONFIDENTIAL