TNAG-0971-FCO40-1190-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1980 — Page 142

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RECEIVED IN REG/STAY NO. 51 09 MAY 1980

REGISTRY

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INDEX

PA

Action Taken

DESKBY 0810002

39)

GRS 170

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 081000Z

FM HONG KONG 080748Z MAY 80

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 617 OF 8 MAY

An 131

124

NO DISTRIBUTION

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: FAMILY REUNION.

FOR CLIFT FROM DAVIES.

PLEASE PASS THE FOLLOWING TO IAIN ORR:

TOP COPY

IN YOUR DISCUSSION IN LONDON, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE EXCHANGE

OF CORRESPONDENCE IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN MOOTED BY MURRAY IN HIS LETTER OF 17 APRIL TO MARGETSON THAT SOME OF THE 10,000 PLACES ALLOCATED FOR HONG KONG VIETNAMESE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME MIGHT BE ALLOCATED BY MINISTERS TO FAMILY REUNIFICATION CASES DIRECT TO UK FROM VIETNAM. THE PA RESPONDED IN HIS LETTER SCR 1/4821/78 OF 2 MAY TO BURNS EXPRESSING OUR CONCERN AT THIS SUGGESTION.

2. WHILE IT IS IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST THAT THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE SCHEME SHOULD GET OFF THE GROUND QUICKLY (AND THUS

PERHAPS ENCOURA GE THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO MAINTAIN THE MORATORIUM), WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF REDUCING THE 10,000 QUOTA FOR HONG KONG. A RECOMMENDATION

TO MINISTERS WILL NOT BE MADE UNTIL AFTER A VISIT BY A UK IMMIGRATION SPECIALIST TO HANOI WHICH IS TAKING PLACE SHORTLY. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF OUR CONCERN COULD BE PRESSED HOME DURING YOUR VISIT TO FCO AND HOME OFFICE.

MACLEHOSE

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