CONFIDENTIAL
domestic political pressures to apply harsher measures to halt the inflow of refugees, with tragic repercussions.
16.
We can only hope to exert influence on Malaysia and Thailand to follow humanitarian policies, if we are seen to be making a worthwhile contribution ourselves to resolving the refugee problem. Otherwise, our professions of goodwill for ASEAN will be contrasted adversely with the practical help extended by other countries particularly since it was we, with the Americans, who originally helped to internationalise the problem.
17. Any reasonable number of refugees which the UK might agree to amit cannot be really significant in the face of such large numbers awaiting resettlement. But if we could take 1,500 over a period of a year or 18 months, that would at least show that we were attempting to live up to the High Commissioner's appeal. The press and public opinion appear sympathetic to the plight of these refugees. It would seem right to urge the Home Office to respond.
Recommendation
18. I recommend that we ask the Home Office to admit a further 1,500 "boat refugees" from Indo-China over a year or 18 months: 500 each from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand. It would be helpful if their agreement to this proposal could be received before the Geneva meeting. I submit a draft letter from the Secretary of State to the Home Secretary. SEAD, HK & GD and FED
concur.
28 November 1978
CC
PS/PUS
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Murray
Mr Figg SEAD
HK & GD
FED
MVD
News Dept OID
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мяожил
MK O Simpson-Orlebar UN Department