Mir augt
HO/FO 206/19
PP HONG AID
GRS 170
K129
HKG D
EA
UND NTD
[HK Govt Office]
NO DISTRIBUTION
MICK
X4
(x4)
243/2
Y NO. 31
THIS TELEGRAMMAR 1981
WAS NOT OFFICER RECI ADVANCED. PA
No
MS
Action Tokel
19 Pain 1913
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 190344Z MAR 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 462 OF 19 MAR
FOR FORD
FROM DAVIES
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1. THE GOVERNOR AGREED WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD NOT PRESS
THE HOME OFFICE ON THIS UNTIL AFTER THE AMENDMENTS TO
THE NATIONALITY BILL ARE AGREED AND UNTIL AFTER THE
S OF S'S FAR EASTERN TOUR.
2. IT WOULD ASSIST US IN DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM IF BY 27 MARCH
YOU WOULD LET US HAVE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT PROCEDURE
WE COULD SUGGEST, NOT EXCLUDING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY HKG, THAT WOULD HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS. THE
GOVERNOR FEARS THAT THE S OF S TAKES THE VIEW THAT IT IS
NOT MONEY WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM- BUT UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE RESISTANCE TO IMMIGRATION WHICH THIS GENERATES. NEVERTHELESS PROVIDED THE OFF-TAKE IS LIMITED TO 250 A MONTH THIS OBJECTION SHOULD NOT BE INSUPERABLE.
3. MEANWHILE AS YOU KNOW THE HOME OFFICE TEAM LEFT WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO FILL ABOUT 450 PLACES OF THE REVISED QUOTA. IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THIS BRANCH ARE CONSIDERING
WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO RECTIFY THIS. OBVIOUSLY IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE THAT WE SHOULD FILL ANY QUOTA OFFERED TO
US BY RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES.
MACLEHOSE