CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
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(copy of his letter of 22 December 1980 attached).
If further
pushed, we shall probably have to recommend replying that Lord Carrington will be discussing this with you during his visit to Hong Kong, and subsequently with his colleagues. In this connection, you should be aware that the Prime Minister and Lord Carrington will be going to Washington at the end of February and the issue may come up then.
5. We have also been considering at this end ways in which a new quota might best be put to Ministers. We have examined with interest the revised figures which Bim Davies produced during my visit to Hong Kong in November 1980. It is very helpful that in your view the total involved might be reduced from 5,000 to around 2,000, obviously a big step. As you know, however, there may be presentational difficultiy about mentioning any absolute figure. An alternative which might reduce this problem could be an announcement of a continuing but reduced offtake of, say, 200 a month, to be reviewed after 6 months. This might just be enough for the Americans (the Canadians and the UNHCR).
6. I would welcome your views on this and our other thoughts. I know that you appreciate the constraints over this whole issue. I am afraid that there are no signs that they have lessened. is going to be very hard indeed to get a favourable answer is why we are looking at the tactics in some detail.
It that
cc Mr Burns SEAD
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
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