Foreign and Commenwealth Office
HKK 243/5
London SW1A 24H
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
På
ctober 1980
REGISTRY
[Action Taken
AN 4110
From The Minister of State
DESK OFICER
INSEX
PA
Douglas Hurd CBE MP
Dear Mr. Hasting.
AIA
Thank you for your letter of 24 September to Lord Carrington. Unfortunately events in the Middle East have led to the postponement of Lord Carrington's visit to Hong Kong, and it was therefore all the more useful to receive impressions following your own visit.
The management of our resettlement programme is not of course in the hands of the Foreign Office. I believe however that the programme has been carried through with as much speed as possible, and that those responsible, both in the voluntary agencies concerned and in the Government, have been doing an excellent job. As your letter implies, the major bottleneck is the supply of housing for the refugees, which at the moment is provided by local authorities from within the stocks of council housing. I have noted with interest your view that 'the emphasis should be placed on securing private housing', and am sending copies of this letter, and of yours to Timothy Raison, Minister of State at the Home Office for further consideration.
Rev JP Hastings BA BD Secretary,
The Methodist Church Division
of Social Responsibility
1 Central Buildings
Westminster
SW1H 9NH
minch
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