TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 140

CONFIDENTIAL

14

PP HONG KONG

GRS 203

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 271200Z FEBRUARY 81

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 192 OF 27 FEBRUARY.

FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONALD

8896 - 1

TOP COPY Hick 243/2

гор

RECEIVUS IN MANTRY MD. 51 * - MAR 1981

GESK OTACEN

INDEX

No/MS

YOUR TELNOS 172 AND 173: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: UK PROGRAMME

19)+110

1. THANK YOU FOR THESE HELPFUL TELEGRAMS WHICH LORD CARRINGTON

SAW BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE. WE SHALL SUBMIT ON THE BASIS OF THEM

ON THE S OF S'S RETURN FROM THE US.

REGISTRY

PA

[Action Taken

fers 1013

2. I FULLY APPRECIATE WEIGHT OF ARGUMENTS FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF

NEW QUOTA DURING HONG KONG VISIT. HOWEVER, BEST CHANCE OF

MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT TO NEW UK QUOTA MAY BE AFTER HONG KONG

VISTT, WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD B BETTER ABLE TO PUT HONG

KONG'S CASE TO HIS COLLEAGUES AFTER DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH YOU.

3. WE WILL REVIEW THE POSITION AFTER LORD CARRINGTON'S VISIT

TO WASHINGTON BEFORE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO MINISTERS. IF

THERE HAS BEEN STRONG PRESSURE FROM THE AMERICANS FOR AN EARLY DECLARATION OF POLICY BY HMG, THIS MIGHT TIP THE BALANCE IN

FAVOUR OF SEEKING A DECISION BEFORE THE VISIT TO HONG KONG BUT WE

WOULD NEED TO WEIGH THE POSITION VERY CAREFULLY: WE WILL OF

COURSE TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT YOUR NEED FOR AN ENCOURAGING SIGNAL TO OFF-SET POSSIBLE DISILLUSIONMENT OVER NATIONALITY, ON

WHICH ISSUE ADAMS AND I ARE STILL IN DEBATE WITH THE HOME OFFICE.

CARRINGTON

DIST

LIMITED

PS/MR RIDLEY

HKGD

PS/MR BLAKER

COPIES TO

SEAD

PS/MR LUCE

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

FED

PS/PUS

NTD

SIR E YOUDE

NAD

SIR J GRAHAM

PS

PS/LPS

MR ADAMS

MR DONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

: