CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
8. I have therefore concluded that if we are to have any
hope of persuading other countries to accept increased
numbers from the camps in Hong Kong, we must
ourselves
be prepared to accept a significantly larger number in
the UK. The SCORRI recommendation, that
that we should accept
the 400-500 family reunion cases, is pertinent, and I
hope that you will be able to accept it.
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9. However while a decision to admit the family reunion
cases will undoubtedly be helpful, I am convinced that it
will not 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 forgotten all too soon. The only course which will
enable us to convince other resettlement countries that
thus to put
to
we are facing up to our responsibilities, and thus
real pressure on them to help further, is a commitment
a continuing offtake by the UK. In my view, given the
order of numbers which other major resettlement countries
are now accepting, a figure of the order of 500 a year
will be necessary.
10.
I know that a decision to take such a number on a
continuing basis will not be an easy one for HMG, and
that resettlement of Vietnamese in this country is
difficult. Nevertheless I believe that it is the key to
unlocking the resettlement problem, and that failure to
unlock it will have much graver consequences.
11.
If this approach can be agreed I propose to
CONFIDENTIAL
use it