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5. While in Canberra Cater and I called also on Mr Anthony, acting Prime Minister in Mr Fraser's absence in Lusaka and, briefly, on the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Ellicott. Both Ministers were receptive and sympathetic. Mr Anthony said that Sir Jack Cater's presentation of the refugee problem as it affected Hong Kong had made a deep impact on him.
6.
Mr MacKellar, Minister for Immigration, had been out of Canberra during Sir Jack Cater's visit but arranged to see him in Sydney on 6 August. He had Engledow with him. Sir Jack rehearsed the points he had made in Canberra urging the Minister that Australia should allot a higher proportion of its refugee intake to Hong Kong. Mr MacKellar's response was to offer 1,000 extra places for refugees from Hong Kong. We expressed disappointment because we felt that, as Hong Kong had taken 35% of the boat people, Australia and other countries ought to make up their own global intake in a manner which reflected this. (This sort of arithmetic would have indicated a figure of about 4,000 as Australia's intake from Hong Kong and I do not think so large a figure was ever a possibility. But I certainly think a figure of up to 3,000 would have been a reasonable response). Mr MacKellar pleaded the necessity, as Australia saw it, to keep faith in her own interest with Malaysia and Indonesia. He also spoke of pressures from relatives in Australia to take more from Kampuchea and Laos. He also mentioned political difficulties, including those within his own
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