The Methodist Church
Division of Social Responsibility
1 Cenal Buildings, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH TEL: 01-222 8589
General Secretary: REV. GERALD M. BURT, M.A.
Secretaries:
REV. JOHN P. HASTINGS, B.A., B.D., MR. BRIAN I. CALLIN, M.A., B.Sc.,
REV. NORMAN J. RICHARDSON, MR. ADRIAN SPELLER
Treasurers:
RT. HON. ERNEST ARMSTRONG, M.P.,
MR. DAVID LINDSAY, J.P., FCA.
24th September, 1980.
Ack
(GLA)
2. Hong Kong & lowered Depot for chupt replen
30 on file tome
2919
J2619.
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Carrington, KCMG, MC,
Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
LONDON, SW1A 2AL.
Dear Lord Carrington,
NICK 243/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 6 SEP 1980
DESK FFICER INDEX
FA
86.19
from Mr "Blakker
2/10
aps
Ps) Mr Blaker Mr Donald.
See (92
ON 25/5.
REGISTRY Action 20xdo We are very glad to know that you are visiting Hong Kong the coming weekend. Having just returned this week from Hoons further appraisal of the Vietnamese refugee situation I feel some blak yea beo will be impressed by the excellent work that has been done by the Hong Kong Government and by assisting agencies in making temporary provision for the boat people who have arrived from Vietnam. I feel sure that you will also be sympathetic to the concern of the Hong Kong authorities that the continuing burden of caring for the refugees should be lifted as soon as possible, especially in view of the fact that the existing refugees have been waiting for resettlement for an average of one year already and the additional crucial fact that Hong Kong is also trying to cope with the stream of new refugees smuggling themselves in from China.
While I was in Hong Kong I took the opportunity to meet the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, M. Jacques Terlin, and have examined very closely the detailed figures up to September 22nd of the position regarding arrivals and resettlement arrangements on an international basis. I am fully in agreement that Her Majesty's Government should give over-riding priority to Hong Kong because of our special responsibility for the Territory, whilst we do of course recognise the international responsibility arising from human displacement from Indo-China. I was surprised to find that the extent to which permanent resettlement has taken place of both land refugees and boat refugees is in the broad view very
encouraging.
This however highlights the situation relating to Hong Kong and UK, where one cannot but feel sorrow and shame that our undertakings have not been fulfilled with greater expedition, increasing the mental sufferings of the refugees involved. My analysis has in fact confirmed very strongly my conviction that the Methodist Conference was fully justified in urging your Government to speed up the reception of refugees and to undertake to resettle in Britain a further 10,000 at the very earliest opportunity.
In refugee camps other than Hong Kong there will be several refugees who would wish to resettle in UK as a first option, especially when relatives have already found homes here, and I would hope that such applicants could be included in a new quota for resettlement in UK.
In the Methodist Church we have confidence that there are sufficient numbers of people who if they know the facts will readily rally round to expedite resettlement in this country. We believe that emphasis should be placed upon the securing of private accommodation for this purpose in view of the regrettable reluctance of