TNAG-1418-FCO40-1901-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

about

SCORRI's

of the refugees

the

might have to until both the

5. In response to a question by Mr Rawsthorne recommendation that Hong Kong should absorb some from open camps, Mr Leeks explained that although HKG were beginning to accept that eventually this happen, they would not be willing to agree to it number in the camps and the flow from Vietnam had substantially reduced.

6.

Mr Rawsthorne made the general point that the UK's immigration policy tended to be assessed in

terms of statistics: any increase of say 1000 in overall annual resettlement figures was therefore very difficult politically.

7. Mr Galsworthy said that the Secretary of State would be holding a office meeting to discuss the Hong Kong refugee problem on 8 May. After this the Secretary of State would probably write to the Home Secretary about a new UK intake. Mr Rawsthorne said that it should be possible for them to reach agreement without referring the matter to a Cabinet committee.

8.

On the possible use of RP C Bataan for refugees accepted for resettlement in the UK, Mr Raws thorne thought this would serve little purpose for the 500 family reunion cases.

However

if a decision were taken to accept refugees without UK links continuing basis, this might be worth looking into more closely.

on

a

2 May 1985

CC: Mr Nash, SEAD

Mr Cole, UND

Calla

Olivia Walker

Hong Kong Department 233 3988

CONFIDENTIAL