TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 198

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my Walker (finor). whs has pored fares in the past?

Mr Ehrman

WArtHER, according to HAND a But

supporting 16/20 Lse and the French are the only countries which do not pay travel carts themselves. UND are

discussing the matter with ODA (nade whore vote such CC: Mr Phillips expenditure would fall)`'

My Elwes fur Golinerbay 'X' below, is perhaps something westand discuss with thr

Mr Burleigh and suggest we all Mrs Lee (w/out encl)(includip

Mr McDowall

Mr Handley

Home Office) I have a

travel costs Mr Clinton Leeks, FCO

Oct Woood house an 18 out. The HIG

be unwilling to pay Frang particularly of these arecromally met

MR WELLS

evat

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resettlement! Cantries

by

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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(pora 3 of ther von Arnigh's letter refeit

meeting

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I attach a letter from Mr von Arnim raising a number of issues, which he spoke to me about on Wednesday, apparently after he had

written the letter.

2. I should be grateful if you would prepare a draft reply. I

am sure that there is no IND money to fund the refugees' transport

costs. (If there were any money available in IND I imagine that

we would be looking to use it first to make good UNHCR's grant to

UKIAS, which they say they can no longer provide.) And I imagine

that there are not funds available in the VSU. Perhaps they

could let you know whether they wish to reply separately to

Mr von Arnim on this point or would prefer us to incorporate a

contribution in our reply. However, it will clearly be embarrassing if the refugees we have promised to take are prevented from coming here because no-one is prepared to pay their fares. I am copying

this minute to Mr Leeks in case the Hong Kong Government might be

prepared to provide some assistance.

3. In talking to me, Mr von Arnim said that in his view the

number of Vietnamese refugees who would actually come would be far

fewer than 500, perhaps as few as 350. He seemed to be suggesting that we were being disingenuous in saying that we would take 500 and that we should qualify the statements we were making. I

firmly resisted this suggestion. I pointed out that we had given an I suspect unequivocal commitment to accept the 500 or so refugees with family this imbe ful view hoy,

ties here, and if they all chose to come we would accept them. beer and There was little purpose in speculating at this stage on the to the Angricans

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