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B
1416
A
C
included in the quota.
Lord Campbell raised the matter in the
House of Lords on 18 July when the Secretary of State undertook
to look into the suggestion that the Government give first priority
in the United Kingdom quota to those refugees who have been rescued
by British ships (Hansard Col. 1429-1430). The GCBS also raised
the matter with Mr Hurd on 19 July and the Secretary of State
answered a question on this point at his Press Conference in
Geneva on 20 July (UKMIS Geneva telno 348).
5.
The
a
Cabinet on 12 July agreed that refugees picked up by our
ships at sea should be included in the quota of 10,000.
difficulties in administering this provision are set out in para 2
of the attached draft. Nevertheless, we are committed by the
Cabinet's decision to administer the existing quota in such way
as to allow for the possibility that we may have to accept at short
notice refugees picked up by British flag vessels.
can probably
do this as loon as only small numbers of refugees are picked up by
British ships. But if there is another case of the magnitude of
the Sibonga we may eventually need to consider an increase in the
quota..
6.
SEAD and HKGD agree.
We
CC
PS/LPS
PS/Mr Blaker Mr Murray SEAD & HKGD
24 July 1979
MR Morland
Maritime, Aviation and Environment
Department
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