TNAG-1915-FCO40-2719-Hong-Kong-resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-in-third-count-1989 — Page 65

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Shand, HICD

You have already

an advance QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIH 9AT

SECRETARY

See

of this

&l

HKB 243/28.2 June 1989

%

13 JUN1989

Der Sevel of state

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO CHINESE REFUGEES:

SETTLEMENT

Thank you for your minute of 24 May.

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I fully appreciate the gravity of Hong Kong's problems and the difficulty which you would have in negotiating at ICIR without being able to give any further resettlement commitment. For those reasons I am content that the paper which you are preparing should include the resettlement proposals which you suggest.

The Government collectively must, of course, address the resource implications of a further resettlement commitment, to which paragraph 9 of your minute points. You have copied your note to Nicholas Ridley but I think other colleagues should also have a chance to comment in particular Norman Fowler, John Moore, Kenneth Clarke and Kenneth Baker. The implications go beyond OD.

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As far as the Home Office is concerned, while it is difficult to be precise about the resources required, it is already clear that somewhat different financial and other arrangements would be necessary with the relevant voluntary organisations to provide adequate reception for the 1,000-2,000 new commitment proposed in your letter. We will also require more staff. We estimate a need for up to £3 million extra to meet the reception costs and this would of course require a supplementary bid. I am grateful for the indication of your support in this.

Your minute makes the crucial distinction between refugees and non-refugees. It is important from the point of view of your general policy on asylum that we should accept only Vietnamese who have a well founded fear of persecution in accordance with

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary

/the 1951

乃

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