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6. TO ACCEPT UNHCR'S SUGGESTED TARGETS FOR BOTH THE UK AND HK WOULD BE A COMPLETE ANSWER TO THIS LINE OF CRITICISM WITH ALL ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG.
7. I ALSO WONDER WHETHER FAILURE TO DO SO AFTER INITIATING THE CONFERENCE MIGHT NOT GIVE A PARTICULARLY UNPLEASANT TWIST TO
CRITICISM,
8. FOR BOTH THESE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REASONS I THEREFORE RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE OF THE UNHCR 'S TARGETS. WOULD IT HELP
IF THE UK AND HK PLEDGES WERE MERGED INTO A SINGLE BRITISH PLEDGE OF 20,000 ? THIS WOULD LEAVE ROOM FOR HONG KONG TO TAKE RATHER MORE THAN HALF IF YOU RAN INTO DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES. I HAVE SOUNDED THE SENIOR MEMBER WHO THINKS WE COULD GET THIS THROUGH EXCO. OUR PROBLEM IS SO VAST THAT TO ACCEPT ONE OR TWO THOUSAND MORE WOULD BE A REASONABLE PRICE TO ENSURE THE UK'S POSITION REMAINED UNASSAILABLE, AND THUS ASSISTED THE SUCCESS OF THE
CONFERENCE, AND THE REMOVAL OF THE BULK OF THE REFUGEES FROM US.
10. MY ONLY OTHER SUGGESTION IS THAT THE BRITISH PLEDGE MIGHT BE MADE SEPERATELY BUT INCLUDE REFUGEES PICKED UP BY BRITISH SHIPS (MADE WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE BECAUSE IT WOULD DETRACT FROM THE POSITION IN PARA 6).
MACLEHOSE
FILES. SEAD
HK & GD
UND
FED
EESD
NAM D
SAD
EID
PUSD OID
IPD
NEWS D M & VD
PS
PS/LPS PS/MR.HURD PS/MR, BLAKER
PS/FUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR. CORTAZZI MR.HURRAY MR. STRATTON
ADDITIONAL DISTM.
BOAT PEOPLE
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