Mr Simpson-Udebar (UND)
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGIMARY NO. 51 12 JAN1979
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INDC-CHINESE REFUGEES
1.
As you know, the Home Secretary es now agreed to the Secretary of State's proposal that 1,500 Vietnamese refugees should be admitted to the UK over the next 9-12 months. The proposal was that these refugees should be taken equally from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand, but Hong Kong's position has greatly deteriorated over the last month and I believe that we should/offer to take 500 refugees from the ferritory.
The Governor has argued for 1,000 and Ir Cortazzi has told me he would support this.
2.
..t Mr Cortazzi's suggestion I have drafted a submission to the Secretary of State seeking approval for a new division of the numbers. I imagine the secretary of state would need to write to the Home Secretary and other ministerial colleagues informing them of, or perhaps seeking agreement.to the re-allocation of numbers, but I have not yet drafted. Mr Mimons may wish to add a paragraph dissenting from the recommedantion or expressing reservations.
3.
Your department has hitherto taken the lead on Vietnamese refugees except where the issue is one which concerns Hong Kong alone and should have no objection if you prefer to submit yourself. But it is important to get something/today: the Governor of Hong Long mitted intends to defer any decision to allow the Huey Fong to enter liong Kong
until he has heard what the UK can do. we must, incidentally, inform the Governor before any announcement of our decision to admit 1,500 is made, and preferably give him an opportunity to comment on the text.
10 December 1979
Copy to:
Mr Dimons (SELD)
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department