TNAG-0971-FCO40-1190-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1980 — Page 68

Mi

ALL 243/65 2434

INDEX

шо

CONFIDENTIAL

10.

11 NOV 1989

OF

་ཏྭཱ

MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG : 5 NOVEMBER 1980

At

M. Anvilla

The Rt Hon The Lord Carrington

Sir E Youde KCMG MBE

Sir Murray MacLehose

KCMG MC

72

Eile

13

Mr G G H Walden

Mr R D Clift

Mr R MJ Lyne

GBE KCMG KCVO

Origini at: HKK0263 аккогда

Thi: Copy for: Information only / Action on

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG (5)

1. Lord Carrington said that it would be very difficult to secure agreeemnt on a fresh quota by the UK for boat people in Hong Kong. The climate in the UK, with over 2 million,

unemployed, was very unfavourable.

2. Sir M MacLehose said that this was the most important of the relatively small problems which he faced.

He would

The

be in deep trouble if there were no new British quota. Americans would be likely to reduce or even stop their quota and other countries could follow suit. The worst course would be for HMG to say that there would be no further programme. At the very least, what was needed was a formula with a statement that the programme would continue and perhaps that a Home Office team would go to examine the situation. possible, a figure of, say, 5,000 should be mentioned (as an upper limit including boat rescues) but it was not necessary to be too precise on this. The problem could be solved with a comparatively small future commitment by HMG.

If

3. Lord Carrington said that he would speak to the Home Secretary before the Governor saw Mr Whitelaw on 6 November.

He was sure there would be no problem in avoiding any statement

He realised that there would be no further British programme.

the Governor needed more than that and he would do his best.

But it would be very difficult.

DISTRIBUTION:

PS

PS/LPS

PS/Mr Blaker PS/PUS

Sir E Youde

Mr Donald

HKGD

SEAD

MVD

Governor of Hong Kong

CONFIDENTIAL