TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 148

CONFIDENTIAL

EC090 15.32 28404 HKGOVT G KEY+80272569+HX04 72569 HAB HX

H K GOVT LDN

10 OCTOBER 1983

HKG02533/LM575

My father.

T26/10

THICK 243/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 1 NOV 1293

187

243/2

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Aion Taken

No

TO: SECRETARY FOR SECURITY (ATTENTION MR LEEKS)

VIA:

FROM:

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS (ATTENTION DR HASE)

MRS HELEN YU, LONDON OFFICE

CC TO RICHARD HOARE, FCO, BY MESSENGER

JOYCE PEARCE'S LETTER OF 17 OCTOBER ON UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN SE ASIA

I CALLED JOYCE TO THANK HER FOR COPYING THE LETTER TO ME AND JUST GENERALLY TO KEEP IN TOUCH. I CONFIRMED THAT LORD ENNALS WILL BE VISITING HONG KONG AND DOUBTLESS YOU WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSION OF THIS PROBLEM IN HIS PROGRAMME.

2. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT LIKE SCF, JOYCE AND OV ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE MINORS AND GENUINELY WISH TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE. OV AND SCF WILL BE MEETING THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO CONSIDER THE MATTER.

3.

IN CONFIDENCE JOYCE INTIMATED THAT THEY MIGHT LOOK AT SOME NATIONAL CHILDRENS HOMES (WHICH SHE UNDERSTANDS HAVE SPARE CAPACITY) AND TRY TO GO FOR A JOINT VENTURE TO FILL THE SPACES AVAILABLE. SHE WOULD ALSO ADDRESS MINISTER WADDINGTON AT THE HOME OFFICE TO RENEW THE SPECIAL PLEADING FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND FOR HONG KONG IN THE VR PREDICAMENT.

4.

SHE PROMISED TO KEEP ME POSTED AND I IN TURN TOLD HER THAT SHOULD BE ON ANNUAL LEAVE IN HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER AND SO SHOULD BE AVAILABLS FOR ON THE SPOT LIAISON WITH YOU ON VR MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN.++++

NNNN

SENT AT

19/15452

28404 HKGOVT G 72569 HAB HX

CONFIDENTIAL