TNAG-1535-FCO40-2099-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1986 — Page 14

RE

KK 24.3/8

1 4 NOV 1986

'STRY

n Taken

gmeti

RESTRICTED

словак

76828

-

1

OCMIAN 6828

RESTRICTED

DD 14010OZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

131645Z NOV

GRS 332

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 140100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 2592

OF 131645Z NOVEMBER 86

Прва

Veetixx 26318

MIPT: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: LEGCO POLICY DEBATE

FOLLOWING ARE DRAFT LINES FOR INCORPORATION IN YOUR REPLY:

BEGINS

UK RESETTLEMENT

HMG'S 1985 PROGRAMME TO RESETTLE FAMILY REUNION CASES IS

VIRTUALLY COMPLETE: NEARLY 500 REFUGEES HAVE BEEN RESETTLED. AS

HMG UNDERTOOK LAST YEAR, NOW CONSIDERING, IN THE LIGHT OF OTHER

COUNTRIES' RESPONSES TO HONG KONG'S NEEDS AND OF ALL OTHER

CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT MORE IT AND OTHERS MIGHT NOW DO TO TRY TO

RESOLVE PROBLEM.

OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

HMG MOST CONCERNED THAT, FOLLOWING OTHER COUNTRIES' AGREEMENT TO TAKE 1,000 EXTRA REFUGEES, AND ITS OWN ACCEPTANCE OF

500, TWICE AS MANY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AS LAST YEAR ARE ARRIVING

IN HONG KONG. RECOGNISE HONG KONG MAY END 1986 WITH ONLY A FEW

LESS HUNDRED REFUGEES IN CAMPS THAN AT BEGINNING OF YEAR.

RESETTLEMENT CAN NO LONGER BE SOLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

RECOGNISE NEED TO EXPLORE ISSUE IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER

INTERESTED PARTIES, INCLUDING UNHCR.

(DEFENSIVE) (IF ASKED WHAT SOLUTION HMG HAVE IN MIND.)

NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS: WILL WISH TO KNOW VIEWS OF OTHER

}

1

RESTRICTED