TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 42

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QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SWIH 9AT

25.

MINISTER

OF STATE

кут рук о

Reg

in Cory to

COLE UND

Mr

31 JAN 1985

Received

1/2/85.

The Hartland. Surman, Sitto

4443/5. (2) pa SCORRI.

Capy of this Letter on

Richs

av

ого

5/2

CC!

THS

COPY

FOR

Ром Сиси In Golsworthy, HILD

Clerk

We spoke recently about your forthcoming appearance before SCORRI and the

pressure you are likely to face on the question of the United Kingdom taking

of the United Kingdom taking N

more refugees from the camps in Hong Kong.

You indicated that if pressed you would be minded to say that you saw some benefit in a Government gesture towards those in the Hong Kong camps.

I am inclined to agree with you and am writing to the British Refugee Council in advance of the Sub-Committee's report to confirm that I would be prepared to consider individual cases which the BRC may wish to refer to me on the lines discussed at my meeting with Lord Ennals last October. I do not think that we can go any further until we see what the Sub-Committee has to say.

1/2

I am sure that you will agree that we must ensure that our Departments are seen to be acting in concert on what is a complex and very emotional subject. I do not consider that we should give the Sub-Committee any indication as to what we would consider to be a reasonable number. It should suffice to say that we have discussed the matter and that, while we agree that some form of Government initiative might be necessary, it would be prudent to await the Sub-Committee's report. It may well be that in the light of their recommendations an official from my Refugee Unit should visit the camps and report back to me on the situation there before I make a final decision.

It would be helpful to have an early sight of your briefing for next week and if you feel that we should meet to discuss this further please let me know.

HKK 243/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

-6 FEB 1985

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REGISTRY

DESK OPPICER

INDEX

PA

Дін

Taken

Mos

(DAVID WADDINGTON)

Sache.

Richard Luce Esq. M.P.