TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 25

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CONFIDENTIAL

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CALL BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE: 23 JUNE 1981

Present:

The Rt Hon the Lord Carrington

KCMG MC

Mr Nicholas Ridley MP

Sir Murray MacLenʊ

Hkn 24317 нки

KCMG KCVO

Mr A E Donald CMG

Mr R D Clift

Mr R MJ Lyne

RECEIVED IN REMEDY NO. 51

•2 JUL 1981

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY Action Taken

INDEX

PA

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fr.1.

FCM ~17

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1.

Sir M MacLehose said that there were 16,000 refugees still in Hong Kong. There was now virtually no net outflow.

2.

Lord Carrington said that he had every sympathy but he must make clear that it would be a very difficult task indeed to get agreement to accept more Vietnamese refugees given the rate of unemployment in Britain.

3. Mr Ridley said that probably the only hope would be if some major crisis made it clear that urgent humanitarian action was necessary. Lord Carrington agreed. He appreciated that the Governor needed something to encourage the Americans to keep going. 4. Sir M MacLehose said that he had discussed the question with the American Secretary of State, Mr Haig, who had said that the US would try to keep their offtake going and had not reproached the UK about its record.

5.

It was agreed that the situation must be watched closely and that the FCO would keep in touch with the Governor on the need for and timing of action.

DISTRIBUTION:

HKGD (to enter)

Private Secretary

PS/LPS

PS/PUS

PS/Mr Ridley

Sir E Youde (o/r)

Mr Donald

SEAD

Acting Governor, Hong Kong (Personal)

CONFIDENTIAL