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This is also one of the reasons why it is essential that Hong Kong should clearly accept only the responsibilities of a country of first asylum: if Hong Kong were to be accepted as a place of resettlement this would again reduce the pressure on other resettlement countries to continue their offtake.
5.
On this point, Mr Soden's arguments are, I think, weak. It may be worth repeating to the Home Office that the refugees on the Hupeh landed not in Hong Kong but in Manila and their circumstances are therefore rather different from those 'arriving in their own small boats from Vietnam and available for resettlement by UNHCR'. Neither these nor those from the Po Yang now have much chance of resettlement from Hong Kong is we refuse to take them. Moreover, the Hong Kong Government has always attempted to draw a clear distinction between ship rescue cases and direct arrivals, and has had considerable success in persuading other countries to take refugees rescued by their ships.
6.
As you say, the Prime Minister is likely to come under fairly heavy pressure on this issue. We cannot confine the briefing to a recital of the Home Office's arguments against a new quota. There must be understanding of Hong Kong's position. I do not imagine that the cases of Hupeh and Po Yang are widely enough known for her to be questioned specifically on these, but certainly it would help if she were able to say that we were taking refugees rescued by UK-registered vessels 'including those registered in Hong Kong'. As I have said above, I agree that this would be a fairly limited concession, but it would be a concession nevertheless and therefore helpful.
7.
If there is to be a meeting with Home Office officials, it should preferably be soon. It would be helpful if it could be this week, as the Prime Minister's briefing must reach the Cabinet Office by 8 September.
1 September 1982
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R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
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