43/1
HKK 243/1
RECEIVED PROPER NO. 51 30 1 1979 HUL
C
les
30 Zi
Milli
RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND SIR LESLIE KIRKLEY AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON JULY AT
5.00 PM
1454)
830.7
Present: Mr Peter Blaker MP
HE The Governor of Hong
Kong Mr Stitt
Mr Munro
Sir Leslie Kirkley
Mr Shawcross
Dr Wilson
Mr Ford
Mr de Deney Mr Brad man
1. After initial courtesies, Sir Leslie Kirkley asked that children and the handicapped be included in the 10,000 that we had agreed to take. It would not be right just to cream off professional people. He was happy with the figure of 10,000 and hoped that later we would agree to take more. He asked for the processing to be completed as soon as possible.
Mr Blaker paid a tribute to the work of the voluntary organisations.
3.
Sir Leslie said that he hoped to see the Pope before the Geneva Conference (he was going to Rome that evening). He intended to ask him to influence the Latin American countries to take some of the Boat People. Up to now, they had made no real offer of help, and had shown no real interest in the problem. Mr Blaker said that this was a good idea.
4.
On the question of finance, Mr Blaker said that HMG would offer £5m. Most of this would go to the UNHCR (something which had not really been publicised before the Conference), and the rest would be put towards the rehabilitation of the refugees in the UK.
The Home Office would select the refugees for the UK. Home Office representatives would visit Hong Kong in early August.
5. Sir Leslie asked if other people could be included to speed
the selection process. Mr de Deney said that this was a useful suggestion.
up
rescue
6. The Governor said that Mr Bradman's offer to finance ship should be considered after the Conference. From a humanitarian point of view the idea was good. But there would be problems. Word would get back to Vietnam, and the exodus would increase leading to a greater loss of life. Mr Bradman should consider contributing his money to improving conditions in the refugee camps.
17.