TNAG-0971-FCO40-1190-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1980 — Page 55

Mr Burns

Nkk 24312

RELIVED IN REGBIAT NO. 1

1 1 NOV 1980

REGISTRY

Action Taken

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SEAD (W85)

SIR PAUL BRYAN'S PQ ABOUT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1.

Mr Head in the Home Office told me that Mr Whitelaw has approved a reply on the following lines:

2.

to

'We are directing our efforts to the fulfilment of

the undertaking given to the UNHCR in 1979 to accept

10,000 refugees. About 7,250 have so far arrived.'

If pressed, in supplementaries, Mr Whitelaw will continue concentrate on the point that his current preoccupation is to fulfil the present quota. He will definitely avoid any statement or implication that there will be no further programme. I think this is about as good as we can get in the circumstances.

3.

I am seeing Mr Head on Thursday to discuss possible practical measures by Hong Kong. I must say, however, that on the telephone Mr Head was extremely discouraging. He made the point that in addition to the political argument advanced so strongly by Mr Whitelaw, the housing difficulties were overwhelming. He saw no practical chance of getting houses for another quota; they were even having difficulty planning for the remainder of the 10,000.

11 November 1980

cc Mr Williamson

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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