TNAG-1792-FCO40-2552-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 15

ROZAEK

CONFIDENTIAL

Secretary State

My Ham, HKD

Thank

The

you Sevetom on state has noted.

Mr McLaren

McLaren

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Private Secretary

FROM :

DATE :

CC :

C O. Hum

Hong Kong 2 MAY 1983

25 May 1988

PS/Lord Glenarthur

PS/Mr Eggarn.

Mr Gillmor

Mr Colvin, 45°

Co

Mr Williams, UND

лел

A Love- R. See

Chrys

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK

Problem

Her Majesty's Government will come under strong pressure to make an additional resettlement commitment to help Hong Kong cope with its greatly increased refugee problem.

1.

Recommendation

2.

At this stage the Secretary of State is asked only to take note of the problem. He will wish to bear it in mind during his visit to Hong Kong and when he comes to make recommendations to colleagues on

his return.

Background

3.

The

The situation in Hong Kong is continuing to deteriorate rapidly. A telegram received today sums it up in stark terms. total population of boat people (13,200) is now the highest since 1980. Arrivals so far this year are more than in any full year since 1982. Arrivals this month (2,400) are already more than in any one month since July 1979.

The Hong Kong Government have made it clear to us that they hope that implementation of the proposed new policy would be accompanied by a major international effort to resettle those who

4.

CONFIDENTIAL

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