TNAG-1531-FCO40-2095-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1987 — Page 144

CONFIDENTIAL

(b) Hong Kong

4.

Mr Layden said that Hong Kong's problem required a more urgent

solution than the long-term plan outlined by the High Commissioner. HMG and the Hong Kong Government were most grateful for UNHCR's

More support over the past 12 months.

than 1100 extra resettlement

places had been secured in other countries as a result of the UK's decision to accept 40 a month, Hong Kong's agreement to resettle 250, and UNHCR's decision to treat Hong Kong as a priority, and to

urge other Governments to do so. Morale in the Camps had improved as a result. But Hong Kong still had more Vietnamese refugees, and a higher proportion of long stayers, than any other country of first asylum. Could the High Commissioner say whether UNHCR would

continue to take this attitude?

(b) M. Hocké said that this would only be possible with help from

HMG.

The US, Australia and Canada would be ready to go on helping

if the UK took more. They would expect a further gesture of perhaps 1,000 resettlement places from the UK. He believed that, if the Hong Kong problem were a finite one, this would not be difficult for HMG. The problem needed to be looked at on two levels: first, the need to provide a rapid solution for Hong Kong; second, the need to create conditions in which fewer refugees would travel to Hong Kong in the first place. A gesture by the UK was the key to the first point. The second led back to the question of opening a dialogue

with Vietnam.

5. M. Hocké continued that the Hong Kong Government's offer to integrate locally 250 refugees had not been a success so far, because the refugees in question preferred to go elsewhere (mainly the US). But UNHCR proposed to explain to the refugees concerned that there was no alternative. They would also ask representatives of the Hong Kong Government and other resettlement countries to try to impress this upon the refugees.

M.

6.

Hocké said that he did not want to discuss in detail the value or otherwise of the closed camp system since he had already raised it with the Secretary of State. UNHCR opposed the system,

CONFIDENTIAL