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CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET
INDEX
PS/Mr Blaker
PQ: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG
14 APR 1931
DECK OFFICER
ملا
PA
4
REGISTRY Action Taken
Ah 23/4
Mr Blaker asked a number of questions concerning the attached
83
1.
PQ:
i) Overseas Students' Fees
'What are the latest
available figures about the drop in numbers of Hong Kong
students coming here?'
The latest figures available are for January/February 1981.
Applications in Hong Kong for student visas for the UK fell
by 28% in that period compared with the same period last
year; applications for Canada rose by 19%, and those for
the United States fell by 31%.
ii) Vietnamese Refugees: 'Do the 9,000 boat people who have
come to the UK come off the 10,000 quota or out of the
10,000 plus 1,000 (Background Note No 3)?'
They come out of the 10,000 only, the 1,000 having already
been used up.
iii) Vietnamese Refugees
'May Mr Blaker say publicly that
the balance of the UK quota will take time to full because
of a reluctance by the refugees to come to Britain?'
This is better not said in public since it would weaken
the Hong Kong Government's case for some places. But if
specifically asked about the result of the latest Home
Office visit to Hong Kong he would have to confirm it.
/iv) MacLennan
CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET