CONFIDENTIAL
Resettlement
15. HMG announced in September 1985 its decision to resettle some
500 Vietnamese refugees, almost all from Hong Kong, who have relatives in the UK but who would normally fall outside the
Home Office's criteria for family reunion. Almost all have now
arrived.
16. To maximise the effect of this decision, we have mounted a
diplomatic campaign to press other countries to resettle more refugees from Hong Kong. Many countries, including Australia
(200 refugees), Canada (500), Denmark (50), Finland, (80), the
Netherlands (80), New Zealand (20), Norway (about 75) and Sweden
(100) have offered a total of over 1,000 new resettlement places.
UNHCR assisted in this by urging resettlement countries to give priority to refugees in Hong Kong (most Scandinavian countries and eg the Netherlands allocate their refugee quotas in accordance with
UNHCR advice).
17. HMG also announced that, depending on the willingness shown by
other resettlement countries to respond to Hong Kong's needs and on
all the circumstances at the time, HMG would be prepared to consider
accepting further limited numbers from Hong Kong. We are considering with the Home Office whether HMG may accept such a
"further limited number". The Hong Kong Government
is also now
absorbing up to 250 ethnic Chinese drawn from the longest-stayers in
the camps.
South East Asia and Hong Kong
18. Conflict in Indo-China remains deadlocked. UNGA to debate
Kampuchea on 20-21 October. Resolution will again condemn Vietnamese occupation.
19. Over 150,000 Indo-Chinese refugees in camps in South East Asia under UNHCR mandate. Largest number in Thailand. Further 240,000 Cambodian displaced persons on Thai/Cambodian border under mandate of UN Border Relief Operation (UNBRO). UK provides humanitarian support for refugees in Thailand. Also small programme of humanitarian aid to non-communist Cambodians (£100,000 in 1986/87).
N69AAR
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.