TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 143

UNCLASSIFIED

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

PMVH(81) 7

20 February 1981

HKK

243/2

RECOWHY NOY NG. 51

24 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER

W

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Acron Taken

II.

For 24/2

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

25-28 FEBRUARY 1981

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

Brief by:

F.C.O.

See

12

POINTS TO MAKE (DEFENSIVE)

1. Greatly appreciate US record of resettlement from Hong

Kong.

2. UK quota agreed in July 1979 nearing completion.

Review

of position will follow visit to Hong Kong by Lord Carrington

at end of March.

BACKGROUND

1. The US have taken over 33,000 Vietnamese refugees from

Hong Kong, more than three times the UK figure. Over 21,000

of these left Hong Kong in 1980, out of a total of 37,500

departures to all destinations. Continued US offtake at

current levels (1,500 a month) is essential for the reduction

of the present residue of around 20,000 to a minimal figure

late this year.

However, a Congressional committee in late

1980 made it clear that they believed the US effort was not

being matched by other Western countries, and Mr Muskie wrote

to the Secretary of State in December pressing for a further

UK quota.

2. The new US Administration has yet to indicate whether it

will continue the generous but expensive existing programme of

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/14,000

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