TNAG-1031-FCO40-1281-Visits-by-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1981 — Page 71

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in recent weeks.

Action is being taken with the Chinese.

13. UK quota of 10,000 agreed at Geneva in 1979 has not

yet been filled. Hong Kong is concerned that UK commitment

should continue so that other countries, especially the US,

maintain own resettlement programmes. Prime Minister has

made it clear that in present circumstances a further quota

is out of the question.

14. There have recently been two rescues at sea of substantial

numbers of refugees by British-registered ships making for

Hong Kong. We have had to tell Hong Kong that while these

refugees can be accepted in the UK they must be included in

the remainder of the 10,000 UK quota. The political atmosphere

here would not allow them to be excluded from the quota.

Hong Kong will find this difficult to accept.

We shall need

to reassure the Governor that we will press Hong Kong's interests.

strongly on ways of tackling ship rescues once the quota is

exhausted.

Hong Kong and General Department

19 June 1981

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