TNAG-1419-FCO40-1902-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 147

I enclose the texts of our proposed responses on

recommendations 2, 3, 5(i), (ii) and (iv), and 6 for

inclusion in the White Paper. They have all been agreed

with the Hong Kong Government. Our response to

recommendation 5(iv) is based closely upon the views of

the Hong Kong Executive Council in the light of your own

proposed response to recommendation 5(iii)

I know

that Our two Departments are in agreement

over the need now to proceed as quickly as possible with

publication of the White Paper. From our point of view

a particularly important deadline is 7 October, when the

Executive Council meeting of UNHCR begins in Geneva.

This will provide the year's best opportunity to approach

other resettlement countries on Hong Kong's behalf.

I understand that the time table to which you are working

should enable you to publish the White Paper on 26

September. This timing would give other countries just

enough time to study the UK's response

response to the

recommendations on resettlement and to decide what, if

any, additional level of offtake from Hong Kong they

might be prepared to agree to be fore we approach them at

the meeting. Any later publication date would seriously

jeopardise this chance and we therefore consider it

particularly important that this timetable does not slip.

I should be grateful to know immediately if you

foresee any difficulty in any of the ECO contributions.

CONFIDENTIAL

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