TNAG-1540-FCO40-2104-Further-resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-i-1986 — Page 92

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

RECEIVEL

DI

Telephone 01-

132

233 438

HKK 243/11

STRY

- 7 OCT 1986

EICER

PA

RY

Acton taken

Your reference

42

R M Morris Esq

Immigration & Nationality Dept

Home Office

Lunar House

CROYDON

kar Bob,

HONG KONG:

1.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

Our reference

HKK 243/11

Date

1 October 1986

We spoke today regarding briefing for the UK delegation to attend the UNHCR Executive Committee (EXCOM) in Geneva between 6 and 16 October. Our United Nations Department have been in close contact with Roy McDowall on the preparation of briefing for delegation.

2.

On e

raise

UNHCR

year

the

as

When the

important aim of our delegation, this previously, will be

be to seek to mobilise assistance for Hong Kong both in the main EXCOM sessions and in the margins.

problems with Hong Kong's delegation

or the main resettlement countries, they are certain to be pressed on what more HMG propose to do in this regard. We can of course point to the

of our SCORRI approaching fulfilment

commitment to take additional 500 from Hong Kong and some 60 from camps elsewhere: I am sure we shall Se expected to go further than this. would therefore be grateful for your advice on which the delegation might deploy in such circumstances.

but

3.

can

may

able to

a

an

I

defensive line

after

we can

Home Office Ministers will

review naturally wish to carefully following Mr Waddington's recent visit what more the UK and should do in the way of permitting further resettlement here of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. We understand that we

be therefore not

definite until say anything definite EXCOM has ended: but the more positive the "holding line" deploy, the better will be the prospects over the next few weeks of persuading others to do more for Hong Kong. If possible, should like

of to deploy the following sort

defensive line

further UK resettlement:

course

"Remain very concerned about problem in Hong Kong. As

of part

our SCORRI commitment have of taken 40 per month from Hong Kong over past year, and now in process of accepting additional 60 from

elsewhere in SE Asia.

camps commitment numbers

to from

consider accepting Hong Kong in

Recall SCORRI further limited the light

of

Office Minister

responsible

for

Hong Kong 21-28

September:

responses. Home refugees visited

Ministers

now

circumstances and other countries'

we

on

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