CONFIDENTIAL
2.
CONFIDENTIAL
visit of a senior Task Force official (Bumgardner) towards the end of June, the US Consul-General stated publicly that America would soon be taking the cases already granted conditional entry. This also tended to arouse hopes amongst the refugees and in the absence of any result, their morale is becoming a problem for us. For instance, the number of restive refugees escaping from the camps is increasing and measures necessary to deal with them have on one recent occasion provoked a demonstration by other refugees. (Technically they have not been landed in Hong Kong and must still be considered as detainees, which is why we cannot let them out more freely.) I have also received a number of petitions from refugees disillusioned by the lack of American action.
4.
In these circumstances, I would be very grateful if one of your staff could approach Frank Wisner and ask him when he thinks the Task Force will be able to make a significant move. You could mention that we were well aware of the importance of ensuring that the refugees in Guam were dealt with before the typhoon season arrived, but the position in Guam now seems to be much easier. We also realize the enormity of the problems of resettlement facing the Task Force in America, but unless there is some definite indication of when the Americans intend to move, the management of the refugees in Hong Kong is likely to get progressively more difficult and criticism of the American handling of the problem will increase. In this connection you could mention that expectations have been raised by the visit of the American teams in May and if necessary, you could also refer to the Consul-General's speech at the end of June which encouraged the refugees to think that those who had been granted conditional entry would soon be on their way. Naturally, we hope that the Americans can move as soon as possible, but we would prefer to have a firm date in the future rather than promises of imminent action which have to be revised. For instance, if we had a clearer idea of the timing, it would be easier for us to plan ahead especially as regards the amalgamation of our three camps, which are administratively inconvenient to run.
5.
It would also be useful if you could probe whether the Americans are likely to take any more of our refugees in addition to those who have already been
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