CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 243,
GRES 250
CONFIDENTIAL
# FCO 051923Z FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 108 OF 5 FEBRUARY
243/10
6PER 1079
303
Mo
PA
182.
en
PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER FROM UND REFLDERS IN HONG KONG
Sea
FOLLOWING A TELEPHONE
1. THE HOME OFFICE HAVE WRITTEN TO US, CONVERSATION WHICH THEY (MICHAEL HEAD) HAD WITH COLIN BIRT WHO · REPORTED THAT QUOTE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE APPARENTLY
BEEN SUGGESTING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SO INUNDATED WITH OFFERS
FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT THEY NOW NEED NOT TROUBLE US
TO TAKE THE 1,000 WE HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO ACCEPT UNQUOTE.
2. THE HOME OFFICE LETTER GOES ON TO MAKE TWO POINTS:
(1)
OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE MADE RESETTLEMENT OFFERS SHOULD
NOT BE ALLOWED TO SYPHON OFF THOSE WHO STAND THE BEST CHANCE
OF SETTLING IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES. OTHERWISE
THERE IS THE RISK THAT THERE WOULD BE FEW REMAINING WHO WOULD
MEET THE UK'S SELECTION STANDARDS.
(11) IN THEIR VIEW, IF HONG KONG IS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE UK WITH
1,000 ACCEPTABLE REFUGEES, THE BALANCE OF THE 1,500 SHOULD BE
ALLOCATED TO MALAYSIA AND THAILAND:
2. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR DIFFICULTIES IN MEETING THE HOME OFFICE'S REQUEST TO SIFT 2,000 REFUGEE APPLICATIONS NOW (FCO TELNO VISA 45) BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF MR BIRT COULD, AT LEAST, COME HOME FROM HIS PRESENT VISIT ARMED WITH SUFFICIENT APPROVED CASES (SAY 500)
FOR THE HOME OFFICE AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO BE GOING ON WITH,
VE HOPE YOU WILL FIND IT FOSSIBLE TO MEET THE HOME OFFICE'S TIMETABLE BEARING IN MIND THAT THEY HAVE MADE COSTLY AND ELABORATE RECEPTION ARRANGEMENTS TO COPE WITH A STEADY FLOW OF ARRIVALS OVER
THE NEXT 12 TO 15 MONTHS.
OWEN
FILES
UND
HK & GD
SEAD
CONFIDENTI AL
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