TNAG-0557-FCO40-652-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-othe-1975 — Page 123

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Male

Parliamentary Unit

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

Mr Kenneth Clarke MP (Conservative, Rushcliffe) has put down the following question for written answer today:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs, whether he will make a statement about the present numbers and condition of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong; and what progress has been made in finding permanent homes

for them.

Flag Flag B

2.

104

Flag C

(60)

I have consulted Hong Kong (FCO telno. 390 and Hong Kong telno. 490). The Governor's redraft considerably exceeds the normal maximum of 50 words; and, while I would agree that it would be helpful presentationally in Hong Kong if the reply referred to the United Kingdom's own willingness to accept some of the refugees, the Home Secretary has already made this point in connection with Vietnamese refugees generally in a written answer to Mr Alan Lee Williams MP (Hansard, col. 498, 8 May). I have sent a telegram to Hong Kong suggesting their publicity services should draw local attention to both replies together.

3.

Mr Clarke visited Hong Kong last May on one of the regular series of visits sponsored for MPs by the Hong Kong Government. Otherwise, he has not recently shown any particular interest in Hong Kong affairs.

4.

I submit a draft reply. The Parliamentary Unit have agreed that it will be all right if the draft reply reaches them by 3.00 p.m.

19 May 1975

сс

SEAD

M&VD

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Wheth

PL O'Keeffe

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

CONFIDENTIAL

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