HKK
VRs.
24.312
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
18 JUL 1985
DESK OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
GR 250
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 170644Z JUL 25
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1457 OF 17 JULY
INDEX
INFO ROUTINE HANOI
نة
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: SCORRI REPORT.
1. FOLLOWING THE REPORT OF STATEMENTS MADE BY THE LEADER OF
THE HOUSE (MY TELNO 1427), TODAY'S SCMP CARRIES A HEADLINE QUOTE
UK TO TAKE 500 REFUGEES UNQUOTE. THE ARTICLE REFERS TO HOME OFFICE
TACTICS TO DEFER AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS DECISION (WHICH REFERS
TO FAMILY REUNION CASES) UNTIL THE AUTUMN.
2. WE WILL BE UNDER PRESSURE FROM UNOFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA TO
COMMENT ON THIS. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THE LINE TO TAKE.
3. IN THE ABSENCE OF REPLIES TO TELNOS 1405 AND 1427 WE PROPOSE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NO INFORMATION FROM HMG ON THE SERIES OF MEDIA REPORTS. BUT THIS IS BECOMING MORE UNTENABLE. A SPECIAL APPEAL TO TODAY'S UNHCR RESETTLEMENT MEETING REGARDING REFUGEES FROM OPEN CENTRES WAS UNDERMINED BY OUR FAILURE TO MAKE ANY CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ON HMG'S REACTION TO THE SCORRI REPORT.
4. WE HOPE THAT THIS REPORT IS INACCURATE. HAVING DECIDED NOT (HOT) TO SUPPORT THE HONG KONG POLICY ON THE REPATRIATION OF NON REFUGEES, ANYTHING LESS THAN A STRONG DISPLAY OF SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG (AND BY THIS WE REFER TO THE PROPOSALS IN OUR TELNO 1043) WOULD CAUSE RESENTMENT HERE. IT WOULD ALSO BE UNLIKELY TO SWAY THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, WHO LOOK ON FAMILY REUNION AS THE LEAST (LEAST) THAT HMG CAN DO.
AKERS-JONES
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
SEAD
HKD
UND
FED
NEWS D MAED PS
PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
PS/FUS
MR GOODALL
MR O'NEILL
MR WILSON
BIR W HARDING
CONFIDENTIAL
25
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