TNAG-1537-FCO40-2101-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 182

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に

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3.

Nonetheless, Japan's policy was to cooperate in efforts to alleviate the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees, and was already providing funds to UNHCR (he said some £5.5 m

£5.5 m annually since 1979) and was accepting refugees both as a resettlement country and as a place of first asylum. Japan was fully prepared to act in proportion with other countries' efforts, and hoped that other countries would understand the problems it faced in doing so. Japan was prepared to give consideration to Hong Kong's difficult situation, and understood Hong

problems fully. Kong's

Seki said that

had Japan resettled more Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong than from anywhere else in the region except Thailand. However, few

in refugees in

Hong Kong had Japan, and very few really wanted to be resettled there. In addition, many refugees were sufficiently qualified to lead

self-reliant

in life

Japan; some of those resettled in Japan had resorted to crime, which did not favourable help the Government's efforts to create a more attitude towards Vietnamese amongst Japanese people.

a

this

year

relatives

4. Seki said that Japan would send another resettlement mission

it to Hong

would Kong

and that

He asked interpret the selection criteria more flexibly. that the Hong Kong Government consult with UNHCR and any other agencies concerned to ensure that the Mission had lists of refugees who desired to be resettled in Japan, and who

If this well-qualified.

done, Japan could accept more refugees.

5.

were

was

However, if every country with such difficulties

similar

The

no

be and

I thanked Seki

Seki for his detailed response and said that the difficulties he had

well-known. decided were

took a

stance

to

ever would Japan's,

refugees resettled.

UK had far higher unemployment, greater racial problems, than Japan. (I also pointed out that land

in Japan). was more scarce in Hong Kong than If all resettlement countries were as selective as Japan,

be left with Kong would Hong unresettlable refugees. I acknowledged Japan's financial

but to UNHCR,

said

not the that money was had

say that Japan could not

Japan could professed willingness

contribution

only answer; I people questioning

to its

a large

number

of

to

avoid help

solve the refugee problem, if it continued to resettle so few from Hong Kong.

I welcomed the prospect of another Japanese mission

6. to

Hong Kong

would

this

year,

and

Seki's

resettlement interpret Japan's

that it

assertion criteria flexibly;

CONFIDENTIAL