TNAG-1423-FCO40-1906-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 163

CONFIDENTIAL

CALL BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: 22 JANUARY 1985

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

Background

General

1. 11,900 Vietnamese currently in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement.

1984 arrivals were 39% down on 1983 levels, compared with regional decrease of only 17%: suggests closed centre policy is still having

some effect.

SCORRI enquiry

We

2. Mr Waddington gave oral evidence on 17 December. Mr Luce has

been asked to do so on 4 February. SCORRI will send us in advance

of the hearing an indication of the questions they wish to ask.

shall clear draft replies with the Hong Kong Government by telegram.

Further UK quota

3.

Mr Waddington said in his letter of 30 November to Mr Luce that he could not commit the Home Office in advance of the SCORRI enquiry

to accepting any additional refugees from Hong Kong. When the

Governor saw Mr Luce on 6 December his view was that we should

ourselves await the outcome of the enquiry before making any further approach to the Home Office. Mr Luce subsequently agreed a

recommendation by Hong Kong Department to this effect.

British Refugee Council (BRC) Report "Behind Barbed Wire"

4.

Lord Ennals, Chairman of BRC Asian Committee, and colleagues

will call on Mr Luce at 3 pm on 22 January to discuss the report's

recommendations. We have received detailed comments from Hong Kong Government on recommendations relating to conditions in closed

centres and will incorporate these in Mr Luce's briefing for the

meeting.

CONFIDENTIAL