CONFIDENTIAL
MEETING BETWEEN H.E. AND MR. WOOPROFFE AT HOME OFFICE
ON 17 JULY,
1979.
HKK 243/1
Present
woonfull
Mr. Woodroffe
Mr. Birt
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INDEX
PA
HW The Jaegernot
Mr. Ford
Dr. Wilson
Mr. McLaren
14080
Selection of Refugees
Mr. Woodroffe said that there were two
problems to deal with. The selection of those for the
remaining part of the existing UK quota and the onward movement of those who had been selected but not yet left
Hong Kong. There were still about 600 to select. He
envisaged a rolling programme starting from now. The
selection would be carried out in HK as before by Mr. Birt
of the Home Office and Mrs. Morley Fletcher. (From the
British Council for Aid to refugees). It was important that those selected should have a desire to go to the UK.
If arrangements had been made in advance it should be possible
to select about 1,000 people in every two week visit.
might be possible to split the two man team. Visits could
take place about once every two months. He envisaged a
movement to the UK of about 500 persons per month. In the
long run the speed would depend on how fast people could be
moved out of transit camps in the UK. After an initial flurry
the Home Secretary wanted the movement to be as unobtrusive as
possible.
It
In answer to a question the Governor said that the first visit of the processing team should take place as
soon as possible. The UNHCR, at the Government's request, was now having a blitz on processing. They should have
completed processing for all those in Hong Kong by the end of the first week of August. He asked what Hong Kong could
do to prepare in advance for the visit of the Home Office team.
Birt said that the refugees should be told that they were
free to apply to go to the UK. The Governor replied that he
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.