TNAG-1279-FCO40-1630-Repatriation-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 21

Mr Clift

CONFIDENTIAL

35

Reference

HKK 243/5

Sea (11

#kk 243/5

16

26

1.%

8 APR 1983

32

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FA

الله

Адкр

34

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

1.

A meeting to discuss the Secretary of State's response to Lord Belstead's minute of 21 March on repatriation has been arranged for 10.30 am on 7 April. SEAD, UND and Mr Burrows will attend.

2.

Flagged are:

10

A

Hanoi telno 037 with Mr Pike's views.

(16

B

(26)

C

Hong Kong telno 263.

Record of meeting between Lord Belstead and Sir E Youde on 10 March.

(32)

D

Lord Belstead's minute of 21 March to the Secretary of State.

E

33

34

F

CODE 18-77

3.

Mr Holmes' minute of 28 March to PS/Lord Belstead, recording the Secretary of State's views.

PS/Lord Belstead's minute of 29 March to you calling for a meeting on 11 April.

Of the two suggestions put forward by the Secretary of State, SEAD are best placed to advise on (a) and Mr Burrows (no doubt among others) will have strong views on (b). Other avenues that might be worth discussing include an approach to UNHCR and/or the Americans to attempt to counter the view that the refugees are really economic migrants, and a renewed appeal to the Home Secretary and/or the Prime Minister for HMG to take more refugees from Hong Kong (although I personally doubt if it is worth playing this card again yet.)

4.

After the meeting, we will need to provide advice to Lord Belstead. His Office have asked for this by noon

on 8 April.

7 April 1983

Dicde Rebis.

RJ F Hoare

CONFIDENTIAL