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3. WE HAVE REMINDED FRENCH CONSUL-GENERAL THAT HIS GOVERNMENT APPEARS WILLING TO ADMIT SOMETHING LIKE 10,000 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND HE HAS HIMSELF EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO INVESTIGATE CASES IN OUR REFUGEE CAMPS. OUR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS NOW COMPLETED THE COLLECTION OF BASIC INFORMATION ON THE REFUGEES FROM WHICH IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT 609 CLAIM A CONNECTION OF SOME KJND WITH FRANCE. NEARLY 700 HAVE EXPRESSED A WISH TO SETTLE I FRANCE ALTHOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE THE FIRST PREFERENCE IN ALL CASES. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PASSED TO THE FRENCH HERE AND WE SHALL BE ARRANGING SHORTLY FOR TEAMS FROM THE FRENCH CONSULATE-GENERAL TO INTERVIEW REFUGEES WITH A VIEW TO PROBING FURTHER THE CLAIMS TO FRENCH CONNECTIONS AND OTHER DETAILS INCLUDING LANGUAGE
QUALIFICATIONS.
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4. WE SHALL BE KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE ON THE FRENCH MISSION HERE FOR MAXIMUM POSSIBLE HELP IN RESETTLEMENT, BUT IT SEEMS ESSENTIAL TO US THAT OUR REPRESENTATIONS ARE BACKED UP IN A SUITABLE FORM IN PARIS WITH THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.
5. I HOPE THAT, SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF THE F C 0, YOU WILL ASSIST THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BY DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE APPROPRIATE FRENCH AUTHORITIES TO OUR URGENT NEED FOR HELP IN RESETTLING THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES NOW HERE. IT S POSSIBLE THAT THE FRENCH MAY BE MORE WILLING TO RECEIVE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM A BRITISH COLONY THAN FROM GUAM.
6. POLITICAL ADVISER IS BRIEFING ALL EEC MISSIONS TOMORROW AND WILL ALSO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN FINDING HOMES FOR SOME OF OUR REFUGEES.
F C O PLEASE PASS SAVING E E C POSTS AND OTTAWA.
MACLEHOSE
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