TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 102

Original at: AKCIC 026/2

This Cep, c

Information only, Action on

Para(s)

PS/Mr Blaker

31

32

HKCK 243/2

Fili

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

14 APR 1981

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

No Ma

1화

AW 1411

PQ SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

1.

PQ:

Mr Blaker asked a number of questions concerning the attached

i) Overseas Students' Fees : 'What are the latest

available figures about the drop in numbers of Hong Kong

students coming here?'

The latest figures available are for January/February 1981.

Applications in Hong Kong for student visas for the UK fell

by 28% in that period compared with the same period last

year; applications for Canada rose by 19%, and those for

the United States fell by 31%.

ii) Vietnamese Refugees: 'Do the 9,000 boat people who have

come to the UK come off the 10,000 quota or out of the

10,000 plus 1,000 (Background Note No 3)?1

They come out of the 10,000 only, the 1,000 having already

been used up.

iii) Vietnamese Refugees

'May Mr Blaker say publicly that

the balance of the UK quota will take time to full because

of a reluctance by the refugees to come to Britain?'

This is better not said in public since it would weaken

the Hong Kong Government's case for some places. But if

specifically asked about the result of the latest Home

Office visit to Hong Kong he would have to confirm it.

/iv) MacLennan

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