TNAG-1802-FCO40-2562-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 130

circumstances.

even

shou be private and tailored to their individual

Any form of public statement, or

any standard written advice (which could easily leak)

could attract criticism both in Hong Kong and from the

Chinese Government as well as giving an impression of

undue inflexibility.

Sir Geoffrey Howe hopes that the Prime Minister now

feels in a position to consider together the two issues

of assistance to Hong Kong businessmen and resettlement

of Vietnamese boat people, as she wishes to do, and tó

reach decisions on both. On the latter issue, if the

Prime Minister can now accept the recommendation of the

Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary in their joint

minute of 1 December that we make a further resettlement

commitment there would be strong advantage in making an

early announcement. This would enable the Prime Minister

to reply in positive terms to the outstanding letter from

Lydia Dunn on behalf of all Executive and Legislative

Councillors; and Ministers here to reply to the many

letters from Members of Parliament asking what action we

propose to take on Miss Dunn's request. We would also be

able to secure maximum political benefit in the context

of the visit which Lord Glenarthur is due to pay to Hong

Kong very early in the New Year.

For the

We suggest that any announcement could best be made

simultaneously to Parliament and in Hong Kong.

best publicity in Hong Kong the Prime Minister's reply to