TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 171

CONFIDENTIAL

MR LUCE'S MEETING WITH MR HARTLING, UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER

FOR REFUGEES: WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 1985 9.45 AM

BACKGROUND

D

1. Mr Luce last met Mr Hartling in Geneva on 12 March. The record

of the meeting is attached.

E

PURPOSE OF CALL

2. Mr Hartling is calling on Mr Luce at his own request. He called on UKMIS Geneva almost immediately after his visit to Hong Kong

(11-14 May) and said that he would like to discuss with Mr Luce and

Mr Waddington the issues raised in the SCORRI report. Specifically

he wishes to:

(i) explore the prospects of the UK accepting more Vietnamese

refugees, particularly long-stayers, and

(ii)

(i)

3.

offer UNHCR help in persuading other resettlement countries to increase their offtake from Hong Kong as a follow-up to a UK

example. (UKMIS Geneva telno 200).

acceptance by UK of more refugees

Ultimately a matter for the Home Office: Mr Hartling will be able to discuss it fully with Mr Waddington. The Secretary of State wrote to the Home Secretary on 20 May asking him to accept the 400-500 family reunion cases proposed by SCORRI, and in addition to

give a continuing commitment to accept a further 500 a year from

Hong Kong. (I suggest that Mr Hartling should not be given this figure). We await a reply. EXCO have subsequently discussed the SCORRI report, and have advised that HMG should agree a continuing offtake of 600 a year, together with a commitment to take the family reunion cases and 500 hard-to-resettle refugees. However we do not think it would be wise to approach the Home Office further on the

latter category until we have received their response to the

Secretary of State's minute.

CONFIDENTIAL