OCMIAN 8059
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
221500Z AUG
GRS 219
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1807
OF 22150OZ AUGUST 86
CONFIDENTIAL
Est
TO
58059 - 1.
by
Q DIGE ?
HKK 243/<t
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
20 A00 1986
MICISTRY Tarion Taken
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: "AUSTRALIAN POLICY
1.
2.
Sh
BENSON, MINISTER AT THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, CALLED ON HKD ON 19 AUGUST TO HAND OVER A PAPER TEXT IN MIFT ABOUT
DECISIONS TAKEN BY MINISTERS IN CANBERRA ON THE REFUGEE ISSUE.
BENSON, WHO SAID HE WAS SPEAKING ON INSTRUCTIONS, ADDED THAT
THE MAIN REASON FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO LOOK
CLOSELY AT REFUGEE INFLOWS WAS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION. THOUGH
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAD FOR THE MOST PART DONE WELL IN AUSTRALIA,
THEIR ABSORPTION HAD AN ECONOMIC COST. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.
WERE ALSO CONCERNED NOT TO UPSET THE RACIAL BALANCE OF THEIR
POPULATION.
3. LAYDEN TOLD BENSON THAT WE, TOO, WERE CONCERNED AT PRESENT
TRENDS IN HONG KONG, AND THAT BRITISH MINISTERS WOULD BE
CONSIDERING THE QUESTION NEXT MONTH. THE PRESENT FCO OFFICIAL
VIEW WAS THAT RENEWED INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATION WOULD BE NEEDED,
WITH SCREENING AND POSSIBLE REPATRIATION AMONG THE OPTIONS TO BE
CONSIDERED, AND THAT THE UK'S HAND IN DISCUSSING THIS WOULD BE
STRENGHENED IF WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RESETTLE REFUGEES FROM
HONG KONG AT ABOUT THE PRESENT RATE FOR SOME TIME.
YOUNG
ocmimus 805
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMIT
UND
NEWS.
MALED
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ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
PS/MR RENTON
SIR W HARDING KR SLATER ER WILSON
Confidential
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