TNAG-1424-FCO40-1907-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 136

PROGRAMME.

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3. (B) HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE AS AN IDEA (ROBERT FUNSETH MADE

THE SAME OFFER IN NOVEMBER 1983). WE ARE NOT CERTAIN YET

WHETHER WE WOULD FAVOUR USING THE FACILITIES. THE HOME OFFICE,

WHOM WE HAVE CONSULTED, POINT OUT THAT THE FACILITIES IN THE UK

USED BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO DEAL WITH THE

CURRENT FLOW. IF, HOWEVER, A HIGHER INTAKE WERE AGREED, EG AS A

RESULT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION

REPORT, THE IDEA OF USING BATAAN MIGHT BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE.

IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF WE COULD HAVE FURTHER DETAILS FROM THE

AMERICANS (INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF WHO WOULD MEET THE COST),

ALTHOUGH YOU SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT DECISIONS ON THIS ARE NOT

IMMINENT AT THIS STAGE.

4. FOR MANILA. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET US HAVE YOUR

IMPRESSION OF THE BATAAN FACILITIES AND THEIR RELEVANCE FOR

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES BOUND FOR THE UK.

HOWE

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HKD

UND

SEAD

PS/MR LUCE

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL