TNAG-1893-FCO40-2687-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 44

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(Will force be used?)

We have no reason to believe that

such a repatriation operation would not go smoothly.

—

(If pressed). I am not prepared to comment on a question

which is hypothetical at present.

While this last response will not satisfy the press, it is

better to annoy them than to risk jeopardising the programme

with the Vietnamese.

UK Resettlement Programme for Vietnamese Refugees

26. The UK's original quota for Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong for 1989 was 468 places. 1,000 additional places were

confirmed in February 1989. A further 1,000 places were pledged under the CPA arrangements in June, making a total of

2,000 under the CPA and a grand total of 2,468. All the 468

places have been allocated and almost all have arrived. On the

2000 CPA target, this is to be met over the next three years.

The idea is that 50% (1,000) will be taken in the first year,

35% (700) in the second year and 15% (300) in the third. The Home Office say that they have long made it clear to Hong Kong that we cannot meet 50/35/15 but will aim instead for 33/33/33.

Progress of Resettlement Processing

27. UK has not rejected any case yet put forward. The only

in cases put to us so far are the 379 names of UK link cases Hong Kong. We only received the names at the end of last month

and are looking at them.

The intention is to fill the UK quota from the following

groups:

family reunion. We already have some information about some cases meeting similar criteria to those under which previous UK quotas were selected. We are making arrangements for selection of some of these to be finalised quickly to ensure a continued

CONFIDENTIAL