TNAG-0971-FCO40-1190-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1980 — Page 67

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I am sure that Mr. Cleft's rail to Haykay will be

very useful.

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Mr Dopald

Sir E Youde

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

1 1 NOV 1980

ER

Mr Burns (SEAD) PS/LPS PA Mr Gatty (MVD) PS/Mr Blaker

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Following the meeting on 5 November between the Secretary of State and the Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Carrington spoke to the Home Secretary on 6 November about the need for a new quota of refugees from Hong Kong when the present programme is completed in February or March 1981. On the same day Sir Murray MacLehose saw Mr Whitelaw.

2.

I attach a record of this meeting, (the official record will be provided by the Home Office). You will see that Mr Whitelaw stressed the serious problems (political and emotional as much as financial), and said that he could do nothing without putting the matter to the Prime Minister and other colleagues. He will write to Lord Carrington about how this should be done. The best time would probably be in January.

3.

We will submit when Mr Whitelaw's letter is received. If the Home Secretary is prepared to give reasonable support to Lord Carrington's arguments in favour of a new quota, it would probably be best to try to get a joint paper by the two Secretaries of State. If Mr Whitelaw feels obliged to put more stress on the difficulties involved (and he made clear to the Governor that he would have to mention these) separate papers might be better.

4.

The Governor put considerable emphasis on Hong Kong's readiness to help within reasonable limits. Mr Whitelaw had no immediate ideas but this would be worth pursuing. To have political impact here any Hong Kong effort should if possible produce a substantial reduction in the resources expended in the UK. If, for instance, it were possible to increase the relative time spent by refugees in Hong Kong to the extent that one resettlement camp here could be closed, that would be a helpful argument with the Treasury. We will discuss this point with Home Office officials next week to see if they have any ideas which I could discus when I visit Hong Kong on 16 November.

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5.

One complication is that Sir Paul Bryan has put down an oral PQ to the Home Secretary for 13 November asking about plans for a new quota. This is meant to be helpful to Hong Kong but while no Ministerial decision has been taken it is impossible to give a wholly reassuring answer. The formula discussed between the Governor and Mr Whitelaw (paragraph 9 of the record) is one possible way out. I understand that Mr Whitelaw may perhaps speak to Sir P Bryan asking him not to press the question. The Home Office are also likely to discuss their proposed reply with the Governor as well as with the FCO.

7 November 1980

Dip

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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