TNAG-1536-FCO40-2100-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 109

RESTRICTED

40871

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(C)

TO THE FAMILY REUNION CASES, IN THE LIGHT OF THE RESPONSE BY OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO HONG KONG'S NEEDS AND

OF ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME.

RECENT FALL IN THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG REFUGEE CAMPS: ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG FELL BY 2449 DURING 1985 WE AND HONG KONG REMAIN SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEM. HONG KONG STILL HAS THE HIGHEST VIETNAMESE REFUGEE POPULATION IN THE REGION AND ARRIVALS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986 ARE UP 40 PER CENT ON LAST YEAR. 63 PER CENT OF THE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN IN CAMPS FOR OVER 3 YEARS. A MAJOR EFFORT IS STILL NEEDED BY ALL RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO RESOLVE THIS CONTINUING

PROBLEM. WE HOPE THAT NEW ZEALANDERS WILL HELP.

HOWE

OCMIAN 0871

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LIMITED

COPIES TO

HKD

SPD

AKGO, LONDON

SEAD

UND

PS/MR RENTON

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON

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