TNAG-1531-FCO40-2095-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1987 — Page 117

་

This

is

CONFIDENTIAL

But

HMG's

encouraging.

DSR 11C

international

took

responsibility for the territory obliges us to do all we

can to maintain the momentum of this resettlement effort:

and there are already clear signs that the hiatus in our

offtake from Hong Kong which occurred last month (when we

refugees no

from Hong Kong for the first time in

year) a

will have a negative effect

resettlement (and potential resettlement) countries. The

Canadians (second only to the US in the number taken from

Hong Kong) have told us that their 1987 quota for Hong

over

Kong will not be increased (as was the case

offer

a

on

in 1985

the

and

further offtake from

1986) unless

ourselves we

Hong Kong. The Australians (the fourth largest recipient

country

told

us

in terms

formally that

of refugees

have from Hong Kong)

also

any

decision

them by

to

take

further refugees next year will depend heavily on whether

the UK takes more. More generally,

Our

and Hong Kong's

efforts to secure more resettlement places by lobbying in

Executive Committee last month

the margins of

the UNHCR

were

met by clear

HMG's position

requests

that

should we

first clarify

on

our further resettlement

commitment

to

would

the territory. And M Hocké himself hinted clearly to

officials that he

my

declare again

Hong Kong

a

priority area.

for 1987 if the

UK again made a significant

contribution to

resettlement.

8.

It

is

already becoming

that apparent

Hong Kong

opinion as

represented by the members

of ExCo and LEGCO

is

focussing upon

the refugee problem

a as

test

of

the

UK's

continuing

commitment to maintain

CONFIDENTIAL

the

welfare

and