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CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVED
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RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN H.E. THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE FOREIGN OFRIGE
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Present:
Secretary of State
Mr. D.F. Murray
Mr. R.J.T. McLaren-
Mr. Walden
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Mr Wall
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H.E. The Governor
Dr. Wilson
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Refugees
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The Secretary of State started by saying that the phasing of the intake of 10,000 into the U.K. was clearly unacceptable and would be bad as presented in public. What, however, would be acceptable to Hong Kong? The Governor said that a programme of 500 a month stretched over 20 months would be possible. If the programme ran into difficulty later then this would be explainable. It would not, however, be explainable if the whole programme was delayed right from the beginning. In answer to a question by Lord Carrington why a three year phasing would be difficult for Hong Kong, the Governor said that he could not be expected to conceal from ExCo that such a decision had been taken. Furthermore, from the figures of offtake it would become obvious. Other countries, especially the United States, which was vital to the whole resettlement programme, would react adversely. Furthermore a three year spread would be wrong symbolically for the U.K. The Secretary of State said that the matter should not be pushed now but he would ensure that it was dealt with properly.
The Governor then spoke about the problem of rescue ships being organised by voluntary agencies. The effect of this was simply to encourage more people to leave Vietnam and therefore greater loss of life. Mr. Murray interjected to say that it was.very difficult to say "no" to such voluntary agencies. The Secretary of State confirmed this. It was particularly difficult when it appeared to be a way of stopping people drowning at sea.