CONFIDENTIAL
9815
1
(V)
ABSORBING INTO HONG KONG A LIMITED NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM THE CAMPS THERE, PROVIDED THIS FORMED PART OF A CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO REDUCE DRASTICALLY THE SIZE OF HONG KONG'S VIETNAMESE REFUGEE POPULATION. PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO ACCEPT SCORRI'S RECOMMENDATION THAT HONG KONG'S CLOSED CAMP POLICY BE ENDED. IN HMG'S VIEW, ABOLITION OF THE POLICY WOULD CAUSE A SHARP RISE IN THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG, AND CONSEQUENTLY AN UNACCEPTABLE AND UNMANAGEABLE RISE IN
THE CAMP POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
3. WE SHALL BE INSTRUCTING SELECTED POSTS, INCLUDING YOURSELVES, TO APPROACH HOST GOVERNMENTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER (SCHEDULED FOR 26 SEPTEMBR), TO ASK THEM TO TAKE ADDITIONAL NUMBERS OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG. WE ARE ALSO BRIEFING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO RAISE THE SUBJECT AT HIS MEETING WITH MR SHULTZ ON 26 SEPTEMBER.
B.
4.
HONG KONG IMMIGRATION QUOTA
FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED IN MARGOLIS' TELELETTER OF 22 JANUARY TO YOU, WE SUGGEST THAT MR WADDINGTON DOES NOT GET TOO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN DISCUSSION OF HONG KONG ASPECTS OF THIS SUBJECT WITH RODINO AND MAZZOLI. WE SUGGEST HE TAKES THE LINE THAT THE MEASURE WILL NO DOUBT BE VERY POPULAR IN HONG KONG, AND THAT WE SHALL FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE BILL WITH INTEREST.
HOWE
LIMITED
HKD
NAD
SEAD
COPIES
MR RAWSTHORNE, HOME OFFICE, LUNAR HOUSE, CROYDON
UND
DR WILSON
3
CONFIDENTIAL
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