Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
63)
From: PS/Mr Eggar
Date: 23 June 1988
cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore
Mr Fearn
HKD
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UND
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VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: RESETTLEMENT IN UK
2
1.
Mr Eggar has seen a side copy of Mr Peirce's minute of
22 June 1988.
2.
At risk of replaying once too often a tune which has not found favour in the past, he feels bound to point out that the Home Secretary's objection in para three could be met effectively if we set out to make our commitment contingent on action by others, coordinated perhaps through the UNHCR.
3.
He sees political advantages in the House, as well as within Whitehall. The Prime Minister floated the idea once in the past. The UNHCR seem moderately receptive. He knows the accepted wisdom is that it will not work. But he has yet to see a fully convincing argument why it is not at least worth a try.
J-
Richard Makepeace
CONFIDENTIAL
RM1AIB
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