TNAG-2358-FCO40-3429-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 56

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TELNO 294

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- 7 JUN 19 -

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110762 MDHIAN 9487

Misa visno

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AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

FOR SEAD

70

YOUR TELNO 1037 TO HONG

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KONG AND TELECON HADLEY/TANSLEY: MR MULRONEY'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

1.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO GAVIN STEWART (DUS EQUIVALENT, DEA). STEWART

HAS TOLD US THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE CANADIAN POSITION ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION. IN HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR, MR MULRONEY MADE CLEAR THAT WHILE HE PERSONALLY DISLIKED THE CONCEPT OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, HE ACCEPTED THAT ALL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CANADA, DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. (PARA 6 OF HONG KONG TELNO 1698).

2.

ACCORDING TO STEWART, MR MULRONEY'S REMARKS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE INTENDED TO PUT THE BEST GLOSS ON CANADA'S OWN RECORD ON TAKING REFUGEES: THERE IS NO REAL HOPE HERE THAT OTHER INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES CAN BE PREVAILED UPON TO TAKE VERY MANY MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.

3 =

STEWART ADDED THAT MR MULRONEY'S REMARKS AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT WHICH HE APPARENTLY FUDGED THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN REFUGEES AND NON-REFUGEES (PARA 8 OF HONG KONG TUR) DID NOT REPRESENT A CHANGE OF POLICY EITHER. THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF CANADA ACCEPTING NON-REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT.

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