TNAG-1537-FCO40-2101-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 246

A

JA2ANL

CONFIDENTIAL

кон

Spike tide & Saki Draft

Seki. Draft account please by teletette to Dr Whoon Tokyo - tk.

FROM: CO Hum

DATE:

RECEIVE

7 May 1986

cc Mr Masefield, FED

72

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG:

Mr Adams, SEAD

HKK 243/9

*1:2༈ །*/

23 JUL 1986

RESETTLEMENT IN JAPAN

REGISTRY Acuon Taken

Problem

1.

The Japanese are accepting very few Vietnamese

refugees in the Hong Kong camps for resettlement in Japan,

despite their professed wish to help.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that you speak to a Minister at the

Japanese Embassy, in the Ambassador's absence (until 16

the dissatisfaction with Japanese

May), to

convey our

performance and to urge the Japanese to resettle a

substantially larger number of refugees in future. FED

concur.

Background

3.

As the attached table shows, refugees from Hong Kong camps formed

formed almost 20% of the total number of Vietnamese

refugees accepted by Japan prior to 1982. However since.

1982 this proportion has never exceeded 8.1%. One reason

for this may be the priority accorded to refugees in

Thailand (see para 9 below). We believe, however, that

major factor is the zealous application of vaguely-drafted

rules so as to disqualify most applicants.

CONFIDENTIAL

T.