MAR.03 '88 11:03 GMT HO 2 LUNAR HOUSE
P.04
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3.
· particular Jown
1,000.
The Hong Kong Government, and UNHCR who
who administer the resettlement programme, have pressed us to make up this number and have put forward various proposals as to how this might be
done.
The prior question, however, is whether we should contemplate making up the shortfall at all. FCO argue very strongly that we should. The decision to accept the 468 was based very much on the argument that it was important for the UK to be seen to be contributing to the resettlement programme as a much needed incentive to othar countries to inea38 their
otters.
There is evidence that other countries view Our willingness to make up the shortfall in the 468 as a test of our commitment to resuttlamunt and both the Hong Kong Government and the FCO believe that agreement to fill any vacant places would greatly assist in encouraging other countries to be helpful in their resettlement programmas (the Canadians, for example, have specifically said that they will accept a particular family group of 9, 4 of whom are at present on the UK list, if we will agrae to fill the resulting 4 vacancies). Conversely, they argue that it we were perceived as falling to Zulfil a formal commitment to take 469 cafugaes this could seriously
seriously damage our afforts to persuada others to take more, and would undoubtedly undermine our credibility.
The cesponda
Mary
to our commitment to take 468 Muzers
other countrion/Co das
298n aoddwhat
disappointing and it seems quite claar chat any sign
falling dawn on our suaitaunt would provità Pha
that we are
xcusa which
they need for failing to come forward with offers. Apart from Detonints
sitchn-
1987
* adverse affect which ends would intva programme generally, it yould be seen by Hong Kong 3
Extra!"), a fallus...
Jap.Tros, on our part to give them the support and assistance which they thet nead and would inevitably sour
sour metablons at what is alcendy a publ.
difficult time.
5.
For all of these reasons, therefore, we believe that we should, indeed, agree to make up the shortfall. If Ministers
agree, the next question is how we should seek to do so. Sir Brian Cubbon's recent visit to the colony it was suggested that we should turn the 469 into a general quota and accept
On
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