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MR MCLAREN'S SUBMISSION OF 21 MAY: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ON MV SIBONGA
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1. I believe, with the Department, that we have a clear
obligation to give the appropriate undertaking with regard to the
MrColliams resettlement of this large batch of refugees, even though it will add considerably to the numbers we are committed to accept in the UK (1,500 Indo-Chinese in the next year or so, of which 1,000 are to be from Hong Kong). If we do not give an assurance quickly, confidence in Hong Kong will be undermined and our. negative · attitude will be contrasted with the Minister of State's very sympathetic speech in the Adjournment Debate on 17 May. There is also the need to encourage other countries to relieve Hong Kong's
burden.
i
·
2. Senior officials in the Home Office see no problem on admitting these refugees, since they have been rescued at sea by a British ship, subject of course to Ministers' views on general immigration policy. It is for that reason that they would welcome a letter from the Minister of State. If Ministers agree that this sizeable group should be admitted, however, the real problem is the rate at which they can be resettled by the voluntary agencies and the need to finance the agencies' work. The Department's enquiries suggest that the voluntary agencies could in fact cope, but the Home Office are a little concerned about finding the cash. All this suggests that it could be difficult to take all the Sibonga remainder within a month, as Sir M MacLehose requests. inclination is to assure him that we will take them as soon as possible, preferably in batches, and hopefully with the first batch leaving within a month. It will be necessary of course to get the usual confirmation that UNHCR will pay the cost of passages to the UK.
My
3. I have somewhat recast the letter to Mr Raison and have added a request for speedy confirmation that we will take these refugees, so that we can telegraph the assurance to Sir M MacLehose before the Public Holiday.
22 May 1979
HKK 243/1
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