PASCORRA
Postponed
2. PA.
Ctr.
From: J D N Hartland-Swann
South East Asian Department
109!
ate: 17 June 1985
UKK 243/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
PS/Mr Luce
cc: Mr Galsworthy, HKD
Mr Lever, UND
see
OX
D
INDEX
19 JUN 1985
REGISTRY
PA
on Taken
As
A
B
76,0
D
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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: SCORRI: CALL ON MR LUCE BY BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL (BRC), 18 JUNE 1985 (3 PM)
1.
At a meeting of the Asia Committee of the British Refugee Council on 6 June, Lord Ennals asked whether Mr Luce would be prepared to meet with the BRC so that the BRC could present their views on SCORRI's recommendations on Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.
2. Our line should continue to be that we are considering the Report very carefully in consultation with the Home Office and will reply to Parliament as soon as possible. I submit a list of "bull points" for Mr Luce to use with the BRC as necessary.
3.
The BRC's request should be seen as a follow-up to Lord Ennals' letter of 14 May which expressed the hope that HMG would accept SCORRI's recommendations, and offered BRC assistance in the implement- ation of the recommendations. Mr Luce sent a reply dated 31 May.
4.
It is likely that the BRC will refer to Mr Hartling's visit to London earlier this month. I am attaching a copy of the brief we provided for Mr Hartling's call on the Minister, together with the record of that meeting. At the 6 June BRC meeting, Lord Ennals said that Mr Hartling had recommended to him that the BRC should press not only for family reunion cases to be admitted to the UK, but also that as a part of burden sharing, Britain should accept a small share of those who are hard to resettle and who have spent years in camps (recommendation 5(iii)). To both Mr Luce and Lord Ennals, Mr Hartling mentioned the figure of 1,000 (ie 20% of the 5,000 or so long-stayers in Hong Kong). The BRC have agreed to consult the voluntary agencies involved with a view to drawing up contingency plans (including costing) for receiving this number of Vietnamese refugees into the UK. They then intend to approach the Home Office again.
/5.