TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 82

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On incidental points, the Home Secretary said that the present net migration into the UK was a relevant figure and should be included. He did not wish the paper to confuse the refugee problem with the wider one of immigration, lest the idea of a trade off should be raised. He also said that, though it appeared in the Foreign Office's brief for Tokyo, he had not intended his comment that the Sibonga/Roachbank refugees

might be subtracted from the 1,500 commitment could be more

than a suggestion.

Ideally the Lord Privy Seal would like to see a draft paper in tonight's box, though if this is not possible tomorrow morning would be acceptable. This would then be put into the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary over the weekend. I also suggest that the draft minute to the Prime Minister which was approved by Lord Carrington last night but has not in fact issued, might form the basis for the joint covering minute to the Prime Minister.

21 June 1979

Cc:

PS

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/PUS

Mr Murray

Mr Simons

KGD

UND

Legal Advisers

CONFIDENTIAL,

S J Gomersall