CONFIDENTIAL
59444
-
1
(B)
(C)
(D
(E)
SAME PERIOD 1985). OF HONG KONG'S PRESENT CAMP
POPULATION OF 8582 (1 AUGUST), 64 PERCENT HAVE BEEN THERE
FOR OVER 3 YEARS.
PROBLEM NOT ONE AFFECTING HONG KONG ONLY: HMG ARE ALSO
CONCERNED AT ACCELERATING QUOTE COMPASSION FATIGUE
UNQUOTE AND GENERAL DESTABILISING EFFECT OF UNRESETTLABLE
INDOCHINESE IN CAMPS IN PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM THROUGHOUT
SOUTHEAST ASIA.
FURTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND SOME RESETTLEMENT
COUNTRIES NOW REFUSE TO REGARD MANY OF THOSE IN HONG KONG
AS QUOTE TRUE REFUGEES UNQUOTE, AND THUS WILL NOT INCLUDE
THEM IN THEIR RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMES. THIS CREATES
SEVERE DIFFICULTIES FOR HONG KONG, WHICH IS FACED WITH
PROSPECT OF A LARGE (AND POSSIBLY INCREASING) GROUP OF
UNRESETTLABLE REFUGEES IN ITS CAMPS.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE WOULD WELCOME OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER JOINTLY AND INFORMALLY WITH MAIN RESETTLEMENT
COUNTRIES AND UNHCR WHAT MIGHT BE DONE TO RESOLVE PRESENT
PROBLEM OF CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM, IN ORDER TO
RELIEVE PRESSURE ON HONG KONG.
UNDERSTAND INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS ALREADY TAKING PLACE
PERIODICALLY IN GENEVA BETWEEN LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES OF
US, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN AND UNHCR WHICH ADDRESS SAME
SORTS OF CONCERNS AS WE HAVE. IF YOU AGREE WE FEEL IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD BE INCLUDED EARLY IN THESE
DISCUSSIONS. WE ARE MAKING SAME POINTS TO UNHCR AND MISSIONS
IN GENEVA AND IN OTHER CAPTALS CONCERNED.
SUGGESTED DEFENSIVE POINTS AS FOLLOWS:
6.
(4)
(WHAT SOLUTION DO HMG HAVE IN MIND?) NO PRECONCEIVED
(B)
IDEAS. PLAINLY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS PROBLEM POSED BY
CONTINUING FLOW FROM VIETNAM OF PEOPLE MOTIVATED IN SOME
CASES MORE BY ECONOMIC REASONS THAN BY POLITICAL
PERSECUTION.
(WOULD HMG VIEW INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM AS A
POSSIBLE SOLUTION?) VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS ALWAYS THE PREFERRED SOLUTION. CLEARLY INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION
3 CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.