GRS 380
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIBENTIAL
FM FCO 101448Z SEP 80
AW
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
case!
PA
Vd
ΧΞΟΝΙ
bo
see (62
вод
TELEGRAM NUMBER 753 OF 10 SEPTOZU
0861 DAS G
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONASRI AMICIGGY III GELEDEN
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
НСК HiCK 243/2
1. THE HOME OFFICE'S NEXT SELECTION VISIT TO HONG KONG STARTS ON 13 SEPTEMBER AND IS DESIGNED TO COMPLETE SELECTIONS UNDER THE 10,000 QUOTA. TWO QUESTIONS ARISE ON WHICH WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS:- (A) SHOULD WE ATTEMPT TO MODIFY THE JULY 1979 CABINET DECISION THAT REFUGEES ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE UK AFTER RESCUES AT SEA BY UK REGISTERED SHIPS BE INCLUDED IN THE 10,000: AND IF NOT, HOW SHOULD ANY ADVERSE REACTIONS TO THE SELECTION OF FEWER THAN 10,000 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG UNDER THE QUOTA (IF THIS BECOMES KNOWN) BE MANAGED?
(B) WHAT FURTHER QUOTA SHOULD THERE SE, IF ANY?
2. ON THE FIRST, YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE JULY 1979 CABINET DECISION WAS PRECISE BUT THAT, AS WITH THE REFERENCE TO THE 3-YEAR TIME SCALE ALSO AGREED BY CABINET, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARLIAMENTARY.
AND GENEVA STATEMENTS AVOIDED ANY SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO QUALIFICAT- IONS. YOU MAY RECALL THAT OUR CONCERN WAS TO AVOID CAUSING ALARM, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE SIBONGA CASE, THAT THE QUOTA MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANTLY CUT INTO IN THIS WAY, HOME OFFICE INTEND ON THEIR FORTHCOMING VISIT TO WORK ON THE BASIS OF RESERVING 500 PLACES FOR
UK FLAG RESCUED REFUGEES. THIS DEDUCTION IS A REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF EXISTING AND PROBABLE FUTURE ARRIVALS FROM THE UK FLAG RESCUES SINCE JULY 1979. WE SEE NO PROPSECT OF REVERSING THE 1979 DECISION, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MAY CAUSE YOU PRESENTATIONAL DIFFICULTIES
LOCALLY.
3. ON THE SECOND POINT, WE EXPECT HOME OFFICE OPPOSITION TO ANY FURTHER QUOTA WHICH WOULD MEAN THE CONTINUATION OF THE RECEPTION CENTRE OPERATION AT ITS PRESENT LEVEL. YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH THEY ARE HAVING WITH FINDING HOUSING, AND THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF THIS IMPROVING IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. MOREOVER, THE PROGRAMME IS COSTING SOME POUNDS STERLING £5 MILLION PER ANNUM. WE SHALL, HOWEVER, HAVE TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR FURTHER UK FLAG RESCUES AT SEA, AND FOR 'FAMILY REUNION' REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM, WHERE SOME 2,000 ARE AWAITING EXIT PERMITS, AND FROM ELSEWHERE IN
CONFIDENTIAL
/THE REGION
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.