CONFIDENTIAL
MIGHT ULTIMATELY BE GIVEN PERMANENT HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE IN CONFIDENCE INDICATED THAT WHILE WE ARE WILLING TO ADOPT A GENERALLY HUMANITARIAN ATTITUDE, WE COULD NOT GET INTO A POSITION WHERE THOSE REFUSED ENTRY TO THE UNITED STATES WOULD
BE LEFT STRANDED IN HONG KONG TO ADD AN UNWELCOME BURDEN TO OUR
RESOURCES. WE HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THERE IS NO REASON WHY
HONG KONG SHOULD BE CHOSEN FOR SCREENING AREA RATHER THAN AREAS
CONTROLLED BY UNITED STATES AUTHORITIES.
4. OUR BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT WE SHALL HAVE LARGE SHIPLOADS OF
REFUGEES ALTHOUGH WE ARE RECONCILED TO THE FACT THAT WE MAY
HAVE TO LAND AND CARE FOR SOME OF THEM. BUT OUR PRESENT THINKING
RESTS ON THE PREMISE THAT REFUGEES WOULD BE KEPT IN TRANSIT ACCOMMODATION UNTIL ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE FOR THEM TO BE
SENT ON TO SOME COUNTRY WHICH IS WILLING TO RECEIVE THEM.
CANADIAN COMMISSION HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT CANADA IS WILLING
TO HELP RESETTLE SUCH REFUGEES, AND WE ARE HELPING THE COMMISSION
IN MAKING APPROPRIATE ''STAGING POST'' ARRANGEMENTS IN HONG KONG.
5. GOVERNOR WAS CONSULTED ON THESE CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE
HIS DEPARTURE FOR EUROPE YESTERDAY. HE WILL OF COURSE BE ABLE TO
EXPAND ON THE ABOVE POINTS AFTER HE REACHES LONDON ON 7 APRIL.
6. THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEM SO FAR, AND NO GREAT INTEREST IS
BEING SHOWN LOCALLY IN HONG KONG TAKING REFUGEES. SOME WELFARE AGENCIES, HOWEVER, NOTABLY CARITAS AND THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE, ARE PLANNING TO BRING IN SMALL NUMBERS OF CHILDREN (AT PRESENT TOTALLING PERHAPS 200) TO BE CARED FOR ENTIRELY BY
AGENCIES WITH A VIEW TO ADOPTION BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
ROBERTS
FILES:
COPIES TO: MR. BLANK, DS 11,
MOD
HKIOD (4)
SEAD
FED
NAM D
NEWS D
CONS D
DEF D
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/MR. HATTERSLEY
PS/PUS
SIR D. WATSON
MR. WILFORD
MK. MALE
MR. LARMOUR
- 2 CONFIDENTIAL
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