CONFIDENTIAL
47921
1
THIS APPROACH HAS ONLY A REMOTE PROSPECT OF SUCCESS IN
FORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE STRESS THE NEED TO AVOID OUR
APPEARING TO TAKE TOO OVERT A LEAD IN SUCH DISCUSSIONS, THE NEED
TO CARRY UNHCR WITH US, AND THE DESIRABILITY OF USING EXISTING
CONSULTATIVE CHANNELS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
WE CONCLUDE THAT IF MINISTERS SEE SUCH AN APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM
AS ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE, WE SHALL SUBMIT FURTHER ON THE
DETAILS OF AN APPROACH TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND UNHCR.
5.
ON RESETTLEMENT, WE CONCLUDE THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS ON OUR
APPROACH IN PARA 4, IT WILL TAKE TIME TO COORDINATE AND IT MAY
NOT IN THE EVENT PROVE TO BE FEASIBLE. THE ONLY OPTION FOR
REDUCING HONG KONG'S PROBLEM WITH IMMEDIATE PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS
IS INCREASED RESETTLEMENT. A FURTHER UK EFFORT IS THEREFORE
ESSENTIAL TO EXTRACT FURTHER HELP FROM OTHERS. WE CONSIDER THE
TACTICS WE MIGHT USE WITH THE HOME OFFICE, AND PROPOSE TO
APPROACH THEM INITIALLY AT OFFICIAL LEVEL, AIMING TO SECURE A
CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT PROGRAMME OF 40 REFUGEES A MONTH FOR
AT LEAST 1 YEAR. WE RECOGNISE THAT WE MAY NEED TO SETTLE FOR
LESS THAN THIS (EG A LOWER RATE, OR A COMMITMENT ONLY TO CONTINUE
TO TAKE VIETNAMESE WHO FALL WITHIN THE EXISTING 'RELAXED'
CRITERIA, OR REEXAMINATION OF THE 'UK REFUSAL CASES' PLUS SMALL
NUMBERS OF FAMILY REUNION CASES OR 'HARD TO RESETTLE' REFUGEES').
THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IS NOT THE CRITERIA TO BE USED, BUT
THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT OFFTAKE WITHOUT A BREAK (WHICH
WOULD BE DAMAGING IN PRESENTATIONAL TERMS). WE ENVISAGE THAT, IN
THE LIKELY EVENT OF HOME OFFICE RESISTANCE, A MINISTERIAL
APPROACH WILL BE NECESSARY AND WE RECOGNISE THAT IT MAY WELL
PROVE NECESSARY FINALLY TO TAKE THIS ISSUE TO THE CABINET.
6.
THE ABOVE IS A PRECIS OF OUR DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS TO
MINISTERS. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU OR COPY ADDRESSEES
DESKBY 071200Z.
HOWE LIMITED
HKD
SEAD UND
MR WILSON
3
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 135Page 136
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