CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE
F CO
TELNO 976
OF 08092OZ MARCH 88
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
HUD 243/12
CRY
MAT 1989
166551 MDHIAN 0986
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 638
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : UK RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME
I AM PLEASED THAT THE HOME OFFICE SEEM TO ACCEPT THE ARGUMENTS FOR MAKING UP THE SHORTFALL IN THE 468 QUOTA. THE REACTION HERE IF THIS WERE NOT DONE WOULD BE VERY STRONG. IT WOULD ALSO BE VERY DAMAGING TO OUR EFFORTS TO PERSUADE OTHER COUNTRIES TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.
2. 30 OUT OF THE 133 UK REFUSAL CASES WOULD APPEAR TO MEET THE EXTENDED FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA THAT APPLY TO THE 468 ACCEPTED BY HMG. IN ADDITION THERE ARE SOME 270 OTHER REFUGEES IN HONG KONG CAMPS WHO ALSO APPEAR TO MEET THE SAME CRITERIA. 59 OF THESE HAVE LINKS ONLY IN THE UK. THERE SHOULD THEREFORE BE NO DIFFICULTY IN MAKING UP THE SHORTFALL WITHOUT FURTHER EXTENDING THE EXISTING
CRITERIA.
3.
ON ADDITIONAL RESETTLEMENT BEYOND THE 468, YOU ARE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN I TO JUDGE THE CURRENT PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS. BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT PRESSURE ON THIS ISSUE IS AGAIN BUILDING UP IN HONG KONG. I EXPECT THIS PRESSURE TO TAKE THE FORM OF INCREASINGLY INSISTENT DEMANDS FROM LEGCO MEMBERS AND PRESS COMMENTATORS THAT HMG SHOULD TAKE FURTHER ACTION (RESETTLEMENT, PRESSURE ON VIETNAM TO ACCEPT RETURNEES): COUPLED WITH DEMANDS THAT THE HKG SHOULD CEASE TO EXERCISE A FIRST ASYLUM POLICY IF NO FURTHER HELP COMES FROM ELSEWHERE. I HAVE TOLD MCLAREN AND HUM THAT WE SEE IT AS VERY IMPORTANT THAT LORD GLENARTHUR SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY ON THIS SUBJECT WHEN HE VISITS HONG KONG IN JUNE. OTHERWISE I FEAR THAT HE WILL INEVITABLY FACE A VERY HOSTILE PRESS REACTION.
WILSON
YYYY
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