GRPS 180A PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 271515Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY KK 508/25).
30 JUN1975
222
TO PRIORITY HONGKONG TELEGRAM NO. 599 OF 27 JUNE
FROM HKIOD.
UBI
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
MEX:
REF.
223
1. MR K. CLARKE MP HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER BY 2 JULY TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN TO THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT TO HELP FINANCE RELIEF FOR REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM NOW IN HONGKONG, WHETHER SUCH ASSISTANCE TAKES THE FORM OF A ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL PAYMENT, OR WHETHER FURTHER ASSISTANCE WILL BE FORTHCOMING IF NUMBERS OF REFUGEES REMAIN THERE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD.
2. WE ARE PROPOSING TO RECOMMEND A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINES;
''I WOULD REFER THE HONOURABLE MEMBER TO MY REPLY TO THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR HOWDEN YESTERDAY, I WOULD EXPECT THAT IF ANY OF THE REFUGEES REMAIN IN HONGKONG FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD, THEY WILL BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT’’.
GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS, TO ARRIVE BY 3013002.
3. YOUR TELNO 621, PARA. 3. NO DECISION TO ADMIT ANY OF THE REFUGEES TO THE UK IS LIKELY IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. WE APPRECIATE THAT IT WOULD BE OF GREAT VALUE IF THE UK WAS TO ACCEPT SOME OF THE REFUGEES AND WE ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO RECOMMEND A FURTHER FORMAL APPROACH TO THE HOME OFFICE.
CALLAGHAN
FILES:
HKIOD (3)
FED
SEAD
NAD WED SWPD
UND
MVD
COPIES TO:
DISASTER UNIT ODM
MR. RAE FINANCE DEPT ODM HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR. WILFORD
MR. MALE
MR. HAWLEY
MR. CAMPBELL
MR. WEIR
CONFIDENTIAL
6 GRAFTON ST,LONDON.W1
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