TNAG-0556-FCO40-651-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-othe-1975 — Page 52

CONFIDENTIAL

£1 million set aside for Vietnamese war relief is so far

unallocated and in my view there are very strong grounds for

making some contribution to help Hong Kong with the task.

Hong Kong is used to natural disasters of one kind or another

but it would be most unreasonable to expect the Government of

the Colony, which has no responsibility in the matter, to carry

the burden of this human problem alone.

More generally, in the wider context, I believe it would

be practically useful to be prepared to contribute to an

international effort to help with the resettlement of the

refugees. To do so would be acceptable on humanitarian

grounds; but might also relieve pressure on the U.K. to absorb

greater numbers than are manageable.

I am copying this to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor

of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary and to Sir John Hunt.

CONFIDENTIAL

1:52.

(JAMES CALLAGHAN)

13 May 1975