нко 243112
From the Private Secretary
Dear Stepter,
CONFIDENTIAL
(ET MON)
10 DOWNING STREET
LONDON SWIA 2AA
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Hang Hay Dept
Seps
160
Ps/Land Demaister
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20 December 1988
RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
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The Prime Minister has further considered the Foreign Secretary's proposal that we should resettle 1,000 boat people from Hong Kong in the United Kingdom over two-and-a-half
years. She has also seen the Secretary of State for the ladde
Environment's minute of 20 December.
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Nen.
The Prime Minister remains very concerned about the difficulty of absorbing Vietnamese refugees in this country and, in particular, the pressure they put on housing in certain London boroughs and in a small number of other cities. So while she would be prepared to agree to the Foreign Secretary's proposal, she would wish to see two conditions
met:
i)
ii)
Our offer to take 1,000 refugees over two-and-a-half years should be conditional on other countries agreeing to take substantial additional numbers of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. She would like to see firm evidence of such commitment on the part of other countries before we confirm our decision to take 1,000.
wall
Arrangements should be made to ensure that additional Vietnamese refugees reaching this country do not add to existing heavy pressure on housing in the London boroughs and other cities mentioned in the Environment Secretary's minute. Instead, housing should be found for them in other areas. The Prime Minister would like to have a clear statement of the measures envisaged to achieve this before giving final approval to admission of the refugees.
I am copying this letter to Philip Mawer (Home Office), Roger Bright (Department of the Environment), Neil Thornton (Department of Trade and Industry), Myles Wickstead (Overseas Development Administration), Clive Norris (Department of Employment) and to Sir Robin Butler.
Stephen Wall, Esq.
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дали
C. D. POWELL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
CONFIDENTIAL.
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