CR 150
RESTRICTED
FM FCO 08130OZ FEB 79
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAM NUMBER 126 OF 8 FEBRUARY
FOR BIRT (VISITING HONG KONG FROM HOME OFFICE) FROM HEAD (HOME OFFICE)
SELECTION OF REFUGEES FOR RESETTLEMENT IN U.K.
316
1. I HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR TELNO 214 WITH MCDOWALL.
243/1
HKK 2
INE
No Jok
PA
355
cis
2. WE AGREE IN GENERAL WITH THE ACTION PROPOSED IN YOUR FARAGRAPHS 3-6. THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS ARE THAT THE U.K. SHOULD NOT RECEIVE OVERALL LESS THAN THE 1500 ANNOUNCED IN PARLIAMENT AND THAT THE INDIVIDUAL REFUGEES SHOULD BE SUITABLE ON THE BASIS OF OUR AGREED CRITERIA. SUBJECT TO THIS, WE MUST DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG HAS EVERY CHANCE OF FILLING THE 1000 REFUGEE PLACES WHICH HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO IT. WE THEREFORE AGREE THAT IF 1000 CANNOT BE SELECTED DURING THIS VISIT, A FURTHER VISIT TO HONG KONG SHOULD BE MADE IN ABOUT 5-6 MONTHS TIME. FOR THE MOMENT, FLEASE PROCEED AS PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 6.
OWEN
FILES
MR.LEAHY
MR.CORTAZZI
UND
HKGD
SEAD
MR.MURRAY
MVD
MR.FIGG
STR A.PARSONS
COPIES TO:
MR.M.E.HEAD, ASST SEC, 11 DIVN. HOME OFFICE, Q.A.GATE. MR.MCDOWALL, HOME OFFICE,
LUNAR HOUSE.
RESTRICTED