TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 154

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CUHKK.243/1

RECEIVED IN REGKTAY NO. 51

MR SIMPSON-ORLEBAR'S MINUTE OF MAY ON INDO-CHINA REFUGEES.

PS/Mr Blaker

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

TRY #.

Action Təxan

M

1.211.5

The Cathairi

Kun J11.5 PA

1: There are two essential points.

(a) We cannot give any commitments on finance or on uplift of

refugees at this early stage. Any commitment to take more

refugees may in any case have to be related to general

immigration policy.

(b) Our primary and overriding concern is to ensure that Hong Kong

has access in principle to the Island.

Consequently, HM Ambassador in Jakarta will have to keep a low profile except on Hong Kong. In fact, I doubt if he will be under much pressure to offer a further quota for refugees. There is general understanding around the world, including the ASEAN countries, that we are currently committed to absorb other categories of immigrants who have hitherto had first priority. figure for 1977 (the latest year available) for the global total of persons accepted for settlement in the UK - including dependents, UK passport holders, entry on marriage, fiancés, etc, - was 69,330 (of these, 23,976 came from the Sub-Continent).

T

The

2

2. I have substantially recast the draft telegram but see no need to re-clear it with the Home Office or ODA.

1

10 May 1979

CC

PS/PUS

Sir A Parsons

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Leahy...

Mr Simpson-Orlebar SEAD

HKGD

MVD

News Dept

CONFIDENTIAL

DF Murray

1