TNAG-1069-FCO40-1319-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 91

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FROM RD CLIFT, HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

FILE REFERENCE HKK 243/2 DATED 29 SEPTEMBER 1981 FOLLOWING FOR L M DAVIES ESQ CMG OBE, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY,

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, HONG KONG

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

See 188

1. YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE HOME OFFICE WILL SHORTLY AUTHORISE YOUR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO SELECT THE FINAL 200 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO FILL THE UK QUOTA.

2. THIS DECISION RAISES TWO ISSUES. THE MAJOR ONE IF OF

COURSE HOW TO MAINTAIN A FLOW OF REFUGEES. I WROTE TO THE GOVERNOR ON 11 SEPTEMBER.

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3. THE COMPLETION OF THE QUOTA MEANS THAT FURTHER LANDINGS FROM UK FLAG SHIPPING (OR TO BE PRECISE, THEIR RESIDUES) CAN NO LONGER BE COUNTED AGAINST THE QUOTA. THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT AT OFFICIAL LEVEL HERE (SUBJECT TO CONSIDERATION OF ANY RECOMMENDATION EMANATING FROM NEXT MONTH'S UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN GENEVA) THAT ANY FUTURE CASES WILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH ON THE 'CASE BY CASE BASIS WHICH APPLIES TO EG

SINGAPORE, AND WHICH HAS IN GENERAL WORKED RAPIDLY AND SMOOTHLY IN SPITE OF THE NEED TO CONSULT AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE HAVE HOWEVER ASKED IF IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU WILL BE PREPARED, IN EFFECT, TO CONTINUE YOUR PRESENT

PRACTICE OF ALLOWING SUCH REFUGEES TO LAND IN ADVANCE OF

NOTIFICATION OF THE FORMAL DECISION FROM THIS END. THEY HAVE POINTED OUT THE PARTICULARLY EMBARRASSING POSITION THAT COULD ARISE IF BRITISH SHIPS WERE HELD UP AWAITING PERMISSION TO

DISEMBARK REFUGEES IN A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY PORT.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET US KNOW WHAT YOU PROPOSE.

THE

SIGNED R D CLIFT

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