TNAG-1537-FCO40-2101-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 150

RECE!

10 SEP 1986

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OCMIAN 9444

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FM FCOLN TO WASHI

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CONIDENTIAL

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TO RIGRITY WASHINGTON

TEL:0 1530

OF 11500Z SEPTEMBER 86

AND TO PRIORITY OTTAWA, CANBERRA, TOKYC

INF

PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA

INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, HANOI, KUALA LUMPUR

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

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DISTRIBUTION SELECTORS

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1.

IN THE LIGHT BOTH OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG AND

OF THE CONTINUING INFLOW OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES INTO THE TERRITORY,

WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING OUR POSITION ON THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE

PROBLEM. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RELUCTANCE THAT

SOME OF THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE NOW SHOWING TO ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG WHOM THEY CONSIDER TO HAVE LEFT VIETNAM FOR

ECONOMIC RATHER THAN POLITICAL REASONS: AND ALSO ABOUT THE

IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG OF A PROBAB DECLINE IN THE RATE OF

RESETTLEMENT IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE FLOW OF NEW ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG FROM VIETNAM IS CONTINUING.

2.

MINISTERS HAVE THEREFORE AGREED THAT WE SHOULD

BEGIN CONSULTATIONS WITH RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES, AND UNHCR ON THE CONTINUING CUTFLOW FROM INDOCHINA, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF THE LONG TERM PROBLEM OF QUOTE

ECONOMIC MIGRANTS UNQUOTE FROM INDOCHINA. TO THIS END, MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT AS A FIRST STAGE WE SHOULD SEEK TO INVOLVE

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