CONFIDENTIAL
I concur with the basic judgements underlying this submission: that a new resettlement commitment is necessary, both to convince Hong Kong that we are doing everything possible to help and to encourage others to do more; and that an offer to take less than 1000 would have little impact, either in Hong Kong or on other resettlement countries. Ways and means of making up such a number must clearly be the subject of negotiation with the Home Office but Mr Hum's proposed opening bid may have some attractions for them.
2. It will clearly not be easy to secure the agreement of the Secretary of State's colleagues to a substantial new commitment. I agree that a bilateral meeting with the Home Secretary would be the right way to take matters forward.
10 June 1988
RJT McLaren
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