CONFIDENTIAL
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climate for this is now slightly better: SCORRI is likely to
recommend that a more forthcoming attitude be adopted on family
reunion cases when it reports in April. There are 400 500 such
cases. There is considerable support, even from the right, for the
thesis that we should do more to help Hong Kong. There is some
evidence that the Home Office
the Home Office are beginning to adopt a more
posture.
8.
flexible
cases
However while a decision to admit the family reunion
would undoubtedly be helpful, we do not think that it would be
sufficient on a long term basis to persuade other resettlement
countries to continue taking larger numbers from Hong Kong. A one
off gesture is likely to be largely forgotten within a couple of
years. What is needed is a continuing offtake by the UK. Clearly
any figure for such an offtake is somewhat arbitrary: but
is that to strengthen our arm adequately in dealing with other
resettlement countries, a figure of the order of 500 a year is
necessary.
our view
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9.
A decision to take such a number
number on a continuing basis will
not be an easy one for HMG. Resettlement of Vietnamese in this
country is difficult, and there is a high rate of unemployment among
them. Nevertheless we believe that it is the key to unlocking the
resettlement problem, and that failure to unlock it will bring very
much worse consequences. We therefore believe that the case for a
continuing offtake should be pressed initially with the Home
and later if necessary in Cabinet Committee.
Secretary,
10.
do not
Of the other options for increasing resettlement
believe that voluntary repatriation to Vietnam or regional integration offer any prospect of success. Local absorption in Hong
Kong might be a possibility for a small number, but only if the rate
of arrivals can be drastically reduced.
Decreasing arrivals
11.
Of the identified options, towing out to sea is clearly
unacceptable. Screening new arrivals would be more likely to hinder
CONFIDENTIAL