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Suggested we begin by getting a breakdown for Manila of the 15 refugees to see what sort of commitment we were considering if we were to accept them in UK rather than Hong Kong. The Poyang
residue, he agreed, could in theory have been handled along with all Hong Kong's other unresettleable cases. (Indeed he wondered why the Poyang 27 had not been included last summer in our Hong Kong quota which was then still unfilled). But any consideration of the Poyang case should await the PM's return.
The Hartling initiative
4. Similarly any more forthcoming response to the UNHCR's request that we might be able to make under present arrangements would, it was agreed, have to await the Prime Minister's reactions on her return from Hong Kong. Mr Burns explained that the UNHCR's bid for (a) a new quota from Hong Kong, (b) wider family reunification criteria, (c) quicker case handling and (d) special attention to vulnerable groups, had been made under pressure for the US who were cutting down their annual intake and wanted to persuade other resettlement states to share the burden (offering smaller cuts in their own intake if the response was good).
5. Mr Spence confirmed the Home Office's initial reaction (Soden's letter of 24 August to Burns), that it was hard to see our way to a helpful reply. As well as other refugee problems (Iranians, Poles) and declining public sympathy we also had to recognise that we had now agreed more than 2,600 family reunification cases under the ODP who might come at any time. It was a further open-ended commitment to add to our responsibilities for UK ship rescues and subsequent family reunification cases. Mr Burns observed that the UNHCR's appeal was carefully worded to exclude those still in Indochina, though obviously any reply would have to stress the importance of our existing commitments. Both US and UNHCR seemed to be hoping we could do more over Hong Kong. It was true that Hong Kong was intersted in other countries' attitudes and how these might be affected by our own steps. But it had proved impossible to establish a new quota 18 months ago it would be more difficult now. Was there any pros- pect of wider family reunification criteria for Hong Kong?
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many
Any major Furthermore
6. Mr Spence was not sure how/ this would represent. change would be much more difficult than a year ago. any move publicised with a view to helping Hong Kong vis a vis other resettlement countries would produce a public outcry here. Mrs Lee wondered whether there was any scope for identifying older relatives of the unaccomapnied minors, whom it could be useful to accept. In Mr Spence's view the difficulty again was quantifying the problem in advance because the voluntary agencies were unforthcoming on family details. On speed of processing, cases were handled as quickly as staff economies and relatively low priority would allow. Urgent cases could always be taken out of order if voluntary agencies requested. Finally, vulnerable groups were difficult and were a potential residue in all first asylum countries. But we could not do anything here without a new quota.
7. It was agreed that we should seek an urgent report for Hong Kong on any exchanges during the PM's visit at the end of the month with a view to finalising our response to UNHCR before the Executive Committee meeting beginning on 4 October.
8. Mr Burns added that Mr Martin Barber of the British Refugee Council would be calling on SEAD on Friday morning to discuss possible reactions to the UNHCR initiative were welcome to sit in.
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those who would like
ChyLega.
C MJ SEGAR
South East Asia Dept