.GRS 600
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 080900Z
FM HONG KONG 080155Z DEC 81
115T
CONFIDENTIAL
Hicle 243
See (117)
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1093 OF 8 DECEMBER
(114)
YOURTEL NO 922 PQ ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
་
DISK CHRIGEN
ON
-100-7
A
GE
$9/12
My 14/1
WE RELUCTANTLY ACCEPT THE FORCE OF YOUR PARA 4 AS REGARDS THE POLICY
LINE. HOWEVER, A LETTER (CHIEF SECRETARY TO DONALD) ON OUR INCREASING CONCERN AT THE WORSENING RESETTLEMENT SITUATION IS IN
YESTERDAY'S BAG.
2. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON YOUR PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTARIES.
UK QUOTA
"
SURELY THIS QUOTA HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED, RATHER THAN ALMOST’'
USED UP? ALL PLACES HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, AND IT ONLY REMAINS FOR THE
200 - ODD OUTSTANDING CASES TO BE CALLED FORWARD.
PERFORMANCE OF OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES:
THE USA HAVE NOW TAKEN ALMOST 50,000. UNHCR'S ROLE:
NONE OF THE OTHER SUPPLEMENTARIES MENTION THE CONTINUING INFLOW
FROM VIETNAM. IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO ADD AT THE END OF THIS
REPLY THE WORDS ''AGAINST ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG THIS YEAR OF OVER
8,000''.
EX-CHINA REFUGEES:
•
THE FIGURE SHOULD NOW BE ''SOME 2,700'' (ABOUT 500 OF THE CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION AS POSSIBLE EX-CHINA CASES MUST NOW BE REGARDED AS GENUINE, AND HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER
TO UNHCR). WE ALSO SUGGEST CLARIFYING THE SECOND SENTENCE, TO
READ SEVERAL THOUSAND EARLIER EX-CHINA CASES HAVE ALREADY BEEN
RETURNED... '' ETC.
HMG'S ROLE:
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INITIAL REPLY, THE FIGURE ''70,000** SHOULD BECOME ALMOST 80,0
,000**.
BOAT RESCUES:
WHILE STILL ACCEPTING THE POINT IN YOUR PARA 4, WE SHOULD POINT
OUT THAT THE LINE YOU PROPOSE WOULD HINDER RATHER THAN HELP OUR
PRESENT EFFORTS TO HOLD OTHER FLAG COUNTRIES TO THEIR OWN UNDER- TAKINGS (WHICH ARE READILY GIVEN) TO REMOVE SHIP-RESCUED CASES WITHIN 90 DAYS.
THE US GOVERNMENT'S ROLE:
THE US EXPECT TO MOVE THEIR 50,000TH VIETNAMESE REFUGEE FROM HONG
KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE: POSSIBILY IN JANUARY. GIVEN THE DOMINANT
IMPORTANCE TO HK OF THE AMERICAN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME, THIS
MIGHT USEFULLY BE MENTIONED - PERHAPS EVEN IN THE INITIAL REPLY?
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HK & GD
SEAD
SIR E YOUDE MR DONALD
COPIES TO:
HKGO LONDON
MR R SPENCE HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
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