TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 256

CENTRE OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN STUDIES

HUD 243/

DR. ANDREW TURTON Chairman

12 August 1988

Mr David Colvin

A

SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES

3/5

South East Asia Department

S

(University of London)

MALET STREET, LONDON, WC1E 7HP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London SW1

Dear David

M1 (Dom (tic())

What do you think idea)

Me

720

CE Mr Gare= park (Povin

Planning

Telephone: 01-637 2388 Telegrams: SOASUL, LONDON, W.C.1

we am Lul a word. Lijn.

Smile

Chan 14/

Muri

16

Mc Goddon Mrihomon

I am writing to set out a few ideas for a proposed conference on "Indochinese refugees and Hong Kong: context and prospects" which the FCO might like to consider sponsoring jointly with SOAS.

The general theme would be the refugee issue in South East Asia, but with a specific focus on Hong Kong which has become the most important receiving point for refugees. Speakers could address:

?

-

-

political issues which have lead to the presence of a refugee population in the region;

- the impetus which leads the refugee population to seek sanctuary in Hong

Kong rather than other countries in the region;

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the response of the Hong Kong government and community to the refugee presence;

the context of imminent Chinese rule and plans for a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong;

the response of possible receiving countries for the refugees in Hong Kong and possible repatriation.

I have in mind a one day conference, held at SOAS, with say 50-60 participants and 6-8 contributors. If there was sufficient interest, it could be longer. You may know of particular considerations which would affect the date of the conference, but early May 1989 would seem a likely time.

I envisage that the participants might include: British government departments and parliamentarians, representatives of other governments (Hong Kong, SEAsian, Australian, Canadian), international organizations (Commonwealth Secretariat, UNHCR, EC), British and some international NGOs, church groups, members of the legal profession and media, refugee community groups in Britain, and academics.