TNAG-1273-FCO40-1623-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 185

CONFIDENTIAL

-10-

and Singapore with considerable success.

This option

is unacceptable in humanitarian terms. But if all else

fails it will have to be our last resort.

CONCLUSION

19. . The present prospects are intolerable for

Hong Kong.

press

Could Lord Belstead as a matter of urgency

a)

for a further UK quota of 1,000 for VRs

in Hong Kong?

b)

for HMG's agreement for discussions with the

Vietnamese Government on involuntary

repatriation?

If HMG agrees, then we shall seek the advice of Executive

Council. So as to avoid another ExCo/HMG clash we would

prefer not to go to Executive Council first.

Security Branch

Government Secretariat HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

27th November 1982