TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 123

Private Secretary

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CONFIDENTIAL

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From: P J Westmacott

Date: 23 January 1985

cc: PS/Mr Renton

PS/PUS

Sir W Harding

Dr Wilson

HKD COPY SEAD UND-

SCORRI ENQUIRY INTO VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM

FOR

24411

1. Mr Luce would like the Secretary of State to be aware that he is giving evidence to the Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration (SCORRI) on 4 February about the Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong. I attach a list of the questions the Committee say they are likely to ask.

2. There is growing pressure on the Government to do more to help with the problem of Vietnamese refugees awaiting resettlement in Hong Kong. They now total almost 12,000, and are housed in a mixture of open and closed camps. A number of MPs raised the matter during the second reading of the Hong Kong Bill on Monday; Lord Ennals called on Mr Luce on 22 January to discuss the British Refugee Council's report "Behind Barbed Wire"; and the Governor, Sir E Youde, considers that the only long-term solution will involve sending refugees back to Vietnam as illegal immigrants. (He nevertheless recognises that this cannot be done without the cooperation of the Vietnamese Government).

3. The Government's position is difficult. Mr Luce believes that it would be right to take a more constructive line. But the Home Office refuse to relax their present tight criteria on admissions. When he gave evidence to SCORRI, Mr Waddington suggested that the FCO might do more to bring about a positive response from the international community. But he took this line in the full knowledge that it is the Home Secretary's refusal to accept more refugees that prevents the Government from acting directly to alleviate the refugee problem in Hong Kong. Since other countries will not increase their quotas unless Britain first takes the lead, this policy also ensures that we have no scope for persuading other resettlement countries. to do more.

•

4 Mr Luce intends to resist any attempts at wedge-driving between the Home Office and the FCO when he gives evidence to SCORRI. At the same time, he believes that he will have no choice but to admit that the Government's failure to allow more Vietnamese people into Britain from Hong Kong severely limits its ability to help solve the problem. SCORRI are expected to recommend, inter alia, an increase in UK quotas. This may help to bring about a more forthcoming response from the Home Office.

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