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granted conditional entry. When they have left and depending on other movements it looks as though we shall still have to care for some 1200-1500 refugees here. such a small space as Hong Kong which already has 4 million people - some living in very difficult conditions and faces a constant flow of immigrants from China, absorbing any extra bodies is difficult for us, especially as the local society is 98 percent Chinese and the Vietnamese would find it difficult to fit in. Nevertheless, we have already taken 98 refugees who had some connection with Hong Kong and we have done everything possible to seek help on an international basis rather than look to America alone. For instance, already some 25 percent of the total number of refugees arriving here have been resettled in third countries, excluding Hong Kong and America. We understand from the Consulate-General that there is some chance of the criteria for entry to the US being widened and we should naturally be interested in any information which Wisner can give you on this possibility.
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Finally, if Wisner asks about repatriation to Vietnam, you could say that there are some 35 cases here which are being investigated by the UNHCR, mainly refugees with close relations still in Vietnam. But it is clear that most of the refugees do not want to return. If however the Americans were organising repatriation from Guam to Vietnam and wanted to transit through Hong Kong, we would be glad to help and perhaps some of our own cases who were interested in returning could join the groups from Guam.
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I am copying this letter to Duncan Watson.
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