CONFIDENTIAL
4.
I enclose a copy of a recent Home Office letter to a voluntary organisation here providing a breakdown of Indo- Chinese refugees admitted to the UK since 1975. Apart from the figures given, the UK will be accepting 61 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong (they will begin to arrive during September) and seven refugee children from Malaysia. There is also outstanding a guarantee we have given the Taiwanese to accept responsibility for 42 refugees recently picked up by the "Avon Forest".
5. At present, our over-riding concern is for the problem in Hong Kong where there are currently about 3500 "boat people" who have little prospect of early resettlement elsewhere. We are discussing with the Home Office and British voluntary agencies concerned what further measures the UK might be able to take to help alleviate the situation. It is too early to say what the results of these discussions are likely to be but I think that, if we can accept more "boat people" into the UK (quite apart from the open-ended commitment we already have to accept responsibility for those rescued by UK registered vessels), we are likely to give priority to accepting more from Hong Kong. Depending on the numbers involved, however, we shall see whether a few places might be made available here for some "boat people" from both Malaysia and Thailand. I shall keep you informed of developments.
6.
I attach a personality note on Mr Hartling.
cc:
HK & GD
SEAD
P Morgan
United Nations Department