TNAG-0889-FCO40-1099-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 131

JONFO

CONCLUSIONS

STTAL

11.

We have to recognise that the problems of the Vietnamese refugees raise the widest issues of foreign policy and that they will need to be dealt with by international action for which I know the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will press. So far as this country is concerned however, I invite my colleagues to take note of the decision which has been taken in respect of the Sibonga refugees; and to agree:

(a) that we should accept the 1500 quota agreed by the

previous administration;

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

that we should not agree now to accept automatically all refugees landed in Hong Kong by U.K.-registered vessels, but should give further consideration to the possible extent to which we can help by taking a limited number who would not present serious resettlement problems;

that in other cases we should continue to give the undertaking to accept refugees rescued by U.K.-registered

ships who are not resettled elsewhere;

that we should monitor the situation carefully and lake what action we can to prevent racketeering;

that we should seek ways of offsetting the immigration commitment; and

(f) that any extra costs falling on the Home Office (and,

subject to the views of my colleagues concerned, an other Departments) as the result of additional numbers of Vietnamese should be met out of the contingency reserve.

CONFIDENTIAL